☿ // point zero

[fionnuisce]

Characters: Waver and open!
Format: I'll try to match.
Summary: Professor Charisma does some exploring. And science. Magic science. i have no self control so wow this got up quick
Warnings: None yet.

[dorm room 3-10]

[Sleep paralysis on its own was enough to put him on edge. Was this some kind of ill-conceived attack with magecraft? No, that wasn't likely--if it was and his would-be opponent had an ounce of sense in their heads, he'd be dead already. In the moments it took him to properly regain his senses, Waver ran through a list of hypothetical causes for this problem...each as unlikely as the last.]

[Finally, he was able to sit up and brush long, disheveled black hair from his face. Now that it occurred to him, Waver couldn't even remember having fallen asleep to begin with. Hadn't he only just been leaving a lecture hall in the Clock Tower? If he'd fainted, this didn't seem like any infirmary they had to his knowledge. As he considered the matter, Waver idly trailed a hand to the back of his own neck and froze. Though the collar's presence disturbed him, he could figure that out later. What caused him to halt in place wasn't the presence of something foreign, but the absence of something familiar.]

That's not possible. It's gone, how the hell can it possibly-- [He muttered under his breath for a second, double checking to be sure whatever it was (likely a necklace of some kind, from how he was acting) had actually gone missing.]

[One might find him shortly after that, rummaging through his trunk with some very determined sense of urgency.]

[floor eighty-one]

[Standing before the windows and looking skyward was one unfazed lecturer in a dark green suit, black hair tied in a long ponytail and sunglasses resting on top of his head. In his hands are a pen and small notebook, and every few minutes he pauses to take something down in chickenscratch handwriting.]

[floor twenty-five]

[Here, said ponytailed and sunglasses-wearing individual seems to be doing something a little strange. Namely, something with a case full of glass vials and liquids that might scream 'mad scientist'.]

[Or 'alchemist', if one knew better.]

[Whatever method he was using, Waver seemed to be analyzing a few specific flowers in the meadow, presumably to determine whether they were magical or supernatural in origin.]

[Judging by the frustrated look on his face? They're probably not.]

[floor three]

[A library; the natural habitat of clever people, especially this one in particular. He examined the shelves with a critical look, a small pile of books on the table nearby. Whatever he's actually looking for, it doesn't seem he's able to find it. He adjusted the sunglasses on his head as though doing so was some odd habit, scowling in faint aggravation.]

[anywhere else]

[Of course, anyone doing this much exploring is bound to run into monsters. Maybe he's on his own, or maybe he stopped to defend someone else. Whatever the case, he shifted into a fighting stance as though it were second nature and immediately moved to take down the enemy before him with swift, precise strikes.]

[When the monster had been taken down and the danger was momentarily avoided, Waver straightened up and did little more than dust off his dark green suit with a completely unfazed look.]

[Yeah. Totally a thing that happens every day, right?]

Comments

[vermicompost]

No, it's true. There are a number of people from the Grail Wars here. Servants, too. [Kariya sounded slightly pleased about this. Since his Servant had arrived, he felt safer in the Tower. Well, since Lancelot wasn't mad and they were getting along better.]

I'm glad to hear that. Some people do believe it. The people in charge try their best to make us believe it. [In the light of recent revelations, more people seemed to believe it than before, but not Kariya.]

I'm sorry you've been brought here.

[fionnuisce]

It's fine--I can handle myself.

[Which was of course true, far more so than it had been ten years ago.]

Can you tell me who's here as far as Masters and Servants? I assume I don't need to explain I'm not asking because I'm looking for a fight.

[vermicompost]

I believe you, but the Tower is very dangerous. It does things to us. I hope you'll be all right.

[Kariya looked uncomfortable, then decided to focus on the other question instead.]

I don't want to fight either. There's no reason for us to fight here. [Though once he's back home, he'll do anything he can to win.]

My Servant is here, Ber– Lancelot. There's a Lancer from a War I don't know, the Lancer from the Fourth War, Diarmuid... Rider was here for a time. There are two Sabers, both the one from the Fourth War, only different from each other. [His tone shifted slightly, as he didn't care for the altered Saber.] There's Ruler, who'll protect any Master without a Servant. Caster's Master is here. [And here his tone darkened even further. He very much disliked Ryuunosuke.] And there's Shinji, who was in some kind of computer war... [Kariya is finding it a little hard to list everyone.] There's Archer and Ilya from the Fifth War, and the Einzbern Master from the Fourth... And Rin, of course. She's from the Fifth War, too. [There's some avuncular pride and joy in his voice, even though he'd rather Rin not get involved in any Grail War.]

I think that's everyone, but there might be more, who I don't know. Waver– I mean, the other Waver, tried to make a list, but it didn't go over well.

[Making his own list seems to have tired Kariya out a little, and he's breathing harder.]

[fionnuisce]

...Berserker? [Waver took out a small notebook and quickly wrote most of that down as he spoke, stopping for a solid ten seconds upon writing Diarmuid's name.] He was Kayneth's Servant. At least that was the case in my world. I can't speak for any others, obviously.

[He paused again; that familiarity was getting steadily stronger. He could almost associate Kariya's appearance with the strong smell of blood, though it still hadn't clicked as to why.] ...Don't overexert yourself.

[vermicompost]

In my world, Berserker was my Servant. Is. But he's not under Mad Enhancement now, so I don't know what he is. [He glanced down at the Command Seals on his hand.] Kayneth was Lancer's Master. We must be from different worlds, different Wars. Rider was your Servant.

I'm fine. [It wasn't so hard to catch his breath, and he did so, then smiled again.] I'll be fine.

[fionnuisce]

All the same, try not to faint if you can help it. Between you and me, I'm a miserable heale- [Wait.] ...Kayneth was what.

[vermicompost]

It's all right. Don't worry about me. I have healers I can ask for help. It's better than usual.

[So he says as the worms shift slightly beneath his skin. But it is better than usual. Ishtar and Gabriel both help him a great deal.

Kayneth was Diarmuid's Master. [He's more used to calling him Diarmuid, to distinguish him from the other Lancer.

And now he's starting to wonder, whose Master was he?]

[fionnuisce]

... [Waver turned very still and quiet at that; he looked completely calm, but inwardly there was an old hatred rapidly rekindling itself at the mere concept.]

You didn't mention his name...are you sure he's not here?

[And there was the undertone of 'because if he is I'll break his goddamn jaw.']

[vermicompost]

No, he isn't here. I'm sure Diarmuid would know if he were. He would have told me.

[Kariya doesn't get out so much himself, beyond a few select floors, but he knows Diarmuid does.]

I know everyone from the Fourth War who's here. [He's confident of that, at least.]

[fionnuisce]

[He seemed to have gone slightly tense at the mention of his own teacher, but Waver relaxed slightly at the reassurance.]

What about Di-...Lancer? How well do you know him?

[vermicompost]

I know Diarmuid well. We've been through a lot together since we came here. [And he smiles again.] He's been a great help to me, he and Lancer.

He's a kind and noble person.

[fionnuisce]

That's good to hear. [Waver sighed, almost sounding relieved.] So he's still the same despite that, at least.

[vermicompost]

His time in the War was difficult, but I would rather he tell you about that. [It's not really Kariya's place to share.]

If that's what he was like when he was your Servant, then yes, he's still the same.

And you don't remember me from the War? [Obviously, though, it's not Kariya's own War, because that's the War Kariya's going to win. The other Wars don't matter as much.]

[fionnuisce]

...I'll be honest with you, Kariya. I know I've seen you somewhere, but I simply can't remember where or when.

[Waver crossed his arms, thinking.]

As I recall, the only Servants with Masters I didn't see or figure out later were Assassin and C-...

[Oh. Oh shit. The color immediately drained from Waver's face at the sudden and harsh recollection as he felt the distinct sense that the ground had fallen out from underneath him.]

[vermicompost]

[Well. It would be hard to miss a reaction like that, and Kariya didn't. He frowned, moving toward Waver, not that he could do much to help him if he should fall. But he'd try.]

What is it? What's wrong?

[fionnuisce]

N-...I'm f-...

[He couldn't even bring himself to speak for a moment, much less lie about it. No wonder it had taken him so long; ten years ago he'd hardly dared to even go near Caster's half-dead Master, so of course Waver wouldn't recognize him immediately. But there really was no mistake now that he could associate that white hair and damaged skin to the miserable wretch on the bloodstained workshop floor.]

[He made a valiant effort to regain his composure, but it only worked so much. Waver shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to force the memory back through willpower alone.]

...Caster. You were Caster's Master. I should have realized the absence of a Matou in the war didn't make sense, but it never...I never made the connection.

[vermicompost]

I was?

[Kariya was taken aback. He stared at Waver, his expression one of shock. Could Zouken really have done that to him? That was worse than summoning Berserker. He wouldn't want to be involved in anything having to do with Caster. Caster's monster had almost killed Rin...]

No... that's not possible.

[fionnuisce]

I'm...pretty sure of it. [He'd recovered for the most part, at least in appearance.] About as certain as I can be in this case.

[vermicompost]

But I would never... That's not...

[He would never do anything like that. Kariya felt somewhat sick. He had to sit down, the worms stirring beneath his skin again. He knew it was another world, but to think that something like that had happened to a version of him, somewhere, that he'd be paired with that Servant... He'd rather have Berserker several times over.]

[fionnuisce]

...Relax. If it makes you feel better, I didn't see anything that would've made me think anyone but Caster was causing trouble.

[That was why he was so upset, wasn't it? Waver certainly would have hated to be associated with someone that deplorable, Kariya's eventual fate aside.]

[vermicompost]

I– that's good. [How could Zouken have given him such a Servant? Kariya wouldn't have believed he could have been more cruel, but he was wrong.] I'd never do anything like that. That's.... horrible. Caster's Master is here, and I wish I could– [He breaks off, anger rendering him temporarily speechless and the worms temporarily active until he changes the subject.]

But what about Rin? Was Rin all right? [Had anyone been there to save her?] I saved her...

[He has no reason to think that Waver knows Rin, but he asks the question anyway.]

[fionnuisce]

Rin? Yeah, she's fine. I've spoken to her a few times--she's most likely going to end up one of my students after high school. hell, she practically is one already.

[vermicompost]

Good, that's good. I saved her from Caster's monster, so I thought...

[Well, it's obvious what he'd thought. He feels pity and sympathy for that other version of himself.]

I won't ask you what happened. I must have lost, so Sakura... I'm glad I have Berserker. I know I can win, with him.

[Fortunately, talk of his niece makes him feel a little better.] Rin's a very bright girl. She has so much promise.

[fionnuisce]

She's smart. A little troublesome, but that's probably a good quality to have when all's said and done. Gives me a headache, though...

[vermicompost]

She can be headstrong, I know. [He's able to smile again, trying to push the awful imagined images away.] She always was. She knows her own mind.

She's here, as I said, although... She's a little different. She's Rin Matou, not Tohsaka. But she's still the same person at heart. [Or so Kariya believes.]