☿ // 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

[chevalier_mal_fet]

"It has not been overlong since I came to this place, yet I sense you are even more lately arrived, since you were not known to me before. Your-- energy is both familiar and strange to me."

"I will ask you, are you a Magus, then?
For myself, I am Sir Lancelot, Knight and Servant."

[fionnuisce]

"Yeah--I am."

He couldn't really lie; Waver figured he'd be terrible at it if he tried. So instead he just assumed the least hostile position he could and extended his hand.

"Waver Velvet. Former Master of the fourth's Lancer."

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[It's an unexpected gesture. From an unexpected person. Rider's young Master-- not so young now.
Sheathing his sword, he takes the offered hand in his.
This place is full of much that is wondrous as well as much that is terrible.]

I have heard your name. Though, it was not as Lancer's Master.

I have heard the Fourth War spoken of enough to know that it was my own War as well.
There, I saw you at Rider's side. Lancer at the call of another.

It is unlikely you would have seen my Master.
[This place plays with perception, he knows this much. But if this Fourth War is indeed a different War, there is still one thing he would know.]

Tell me, Waver Velvet, did you gain the Grail then, in your war?

[fionnuisce]

[That was a relief; Kariya didn't seem to be a threat, but knowing his Berserker wouldn't be was still a reassurance all its own.]

Second Magic, then. Your war definitely wasn't the same as mine; and to answer your question, we didn't win.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Second Magic-- I know nothing of this.

[Lancelot's arrogant calm isn't easily ruffled. But there is a shadow on his face as he releases the man's hand.]

What of Saber then-- of Arthur. Tell me, did she take the Grail?

[fionnuisce]

Parallel worlds, basically. The point is that I'm not really the same Waver.

Sorry--I don't know who won. I think Saber and Archer must have been the last two left, but past that there's not much I can say for certain.

[That was only half a lie. He didn't know who won, but he could certainly say 'the Grail is likely corrupted' and 'a good chunk of Fuyuki was leveled'.]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Lancelot nods gravely. News of Arthur is elusive.]

I have not seen the end of the War in my Master's world. I came to this place from a Battle against Archer, and Saber as well, truth be told.

I have heard it said that in the Future, the Grail is revealed to be corrupt. Have you heard of such a thing, Magus?

[fionnuisce]

...You can just call me Waver if you like. And I'll be honest with you. I've had reason to believe the Grail's corrupted, too.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I did not use your title for want of knowing your name-- but, as you like, Waver.

What reason do you have, then? When I first heard of it, I could scarce believe it was possible to corrupt such an object, a holy thing.

[fionnuisce]

Believe me, I'm only a magus in the loosest definition of the word.

[A sigh.] I don't know exactly what happened or who won the night the war ended, but...there was this terrible disaster in Fuyuki that night. Yeah, maybe it could have been caused by a Servant, but...I feel like there was more to it than that.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[In the driest of tones.]
I find that difficult to believe, but I will take your word.

[A disaster-- and no knowledge of the winner of the Grail. What could such events mean?]
A Servant could not have destroyed the Grail, corrupted or no. What is it that you have in your mind, then?

[fionnuisce]

Are you really sure about that? I can't help but think it would be possible, with a strong enough Noble Phantasm.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

It is not a question of Power, but of Intent. What Master would wish his Servant to destroy the Grail-- or what Servant would take it upon himself to do so?

[fionnuisce]

Someone--Master or Servant--who saw the Grail for what I assume it is at the last minute.

At least, that's my best guess on the matter.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

I see. To see the Grail and to Judge it. I would not have thought such a thing possible.

What of you, then-- would you have had your Servant destroy the Grail?

[fionnuisce]

If I knew it was corrupted and if he had a Noble Phantasm strong enough to do it? Absolutely.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[A most unusual Magus indeed. He feels sure his own Master would not go so far as to destroy the Grail, even if the thing were cursed. The man might yet wish upon it-- so long as no harm would come to the girl.]

What of the wishes of your Servant-- are you so sure he would be of a like mind to yours concerning the Grail?

[fionnuisce]

I trust Diarmuid absolutely. And I know him well enough to understand that if he knew it was corrupt in that situation, he'd want it gone just as much as I did.

Apologies for the lag! RL interference.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Though it wasn't aimed, that was still a hit. There is barely any Trust between himself and his Master (to say nothing of the broken Trust that lies between him and his King) -- indeed, they are just coming to know one another at all. In this place, of all places.]

From what I know of Diarmuid Ua Dubhine, that might well be true. He is both fierce and steadfast, and has done much to aid my Master here in my absence. I'm sure that he did his utmost to prevail for you in your War, and would have shared your mind if he thought your cause an honorable one.

no problem, it happens

[fionnuisce]

I wouldn't have forced him to do anything against his will, if that's what you were implying.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

It was not. I was reminded only of what your Servant has told me of his time in our war. His Master was both vainglorious and cruel, and so they came to a bad end together-- one I am sure the First Knight of the Fianna did nothing to deserve.

[fionnuisce]

I've heard as much, and I know Kayneth's methods and attitude firsthand. Putting those two together would be nothing short of an unmitigated and undeserved disaster.

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Yes, such pairings are-- unfortunate.

[A thought occurs.]

My Master is here in this place as well. Tell me, have you met the man?

[fionnuisce]

Kariya, correct? I've met two of him by now, believe it or not. Why do you ask?

[chevalier_mal_fet]

Mere curiosity.

Talk of the quality and suitability of Masters and Servants both reminded of my own.
I suppose I should say "both" of my own, though it is strange to me.

Tell me, did you set eyes on my Master in your War? And was I his Servant then?