☿ // 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

[fionnuisce]

You're angry, you need some kind of outlet. I'm not saying sparring with a Servant is a good idea on my part, but it'll at least help you focus on something else.

[He moved into a fighting stance, still calm as ever.]

I wasn't kidding when I said I could take care of myself in a fight.

*pats* They are such wily critters, enter keys...

[oathshackledbird]

I don't doubt you! I...I just don't want to hurt you. I would never forgive myself. Please...

[He doesn't stand. Instead, he draws himself into a kneeling position, head bowed.]

I will just stay angry. I would rather that than risk hurting you.

[fionnuisce]

Diarmuid...

[Exasperated, Waver lowered his arms.]

I wouldn't get hurt--if you don't want to, fine. But at least stand up and look at me when you're talking to me.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid sighs, squeezing his eyes together.]

I'm sorry. I...I hate this! I really hate this!

[He rises to his feet, but he looks off to the side instead of at Waver.]

If I didn't know hate before, I do now. I am so tired of not understanding any of this. Yes, I need an outlet, but I don't know what. The monsters aren't enough. They just come back and that is frustrating in itself.

[fionnuisce]

It's alright, Diarmuid. [Waver stepped a little closer, lightly taking his former Servant's hand in an attempt at reassurance.]

We'll figure something out. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to help you.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods, his voice tight.]

I know...I know.

[He then looks up at Waver a little shyly.]

Will you show me what you can do still? I would like to see you fight, but if we spar I don't want to be striking at you in anger. I want to do it for fun and as a test of skill.

[fionnuisce]

[He smiled at that, squeezing Lancer's hand lightly before letting go.]

I'd be happy to. I can't really stand against Servants, but I know enough to take down your everyday magus. More often than not they don't really expect an opponent to fight hand-to hand.

[oathshackledbird]

No, they don't because that's not the way things are done. And even if they did stop to think about that, they would still need to get the idea through their heads that they CAN be defeated. So many believe themselves perfectly protected by their own magic.

[Diarmuid's lips press into a frown.]

That is why he got so badly hurt. He went in to take on Saber's master himself and underestimated the man's ability because he wasn't a 'proper' magus. And then he blamed me for staying to help Saber battle Caster. I wasn't even aware of what he was doing because he couldn't be bothered to tell me his plans!

[fionnuisce]

Don't think about it right now. He's not important.

[Waver shrugged off the unpleasant topic, again raising his hands and shifting to a fighting stance.]

Come on--it's not much, but let me show you what I'm capable of.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid grins slightly, all too glad to let those bad thoughts go. He then steps back to drop into a fighting stance of his own, but doesn't call his spear. There is no need for it here and from what he can tell Waver doesn't have and weapons on him besides his hands.]

All right, if you are so eager it would be terrible for me to deny you. Show me what you have learned.

[fionnuisce]

By all means, after you. I'd say the more experienced of us should start this, don't you think?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid can't help but grin.]

Just remember you said that if I put you down before you have a chance to show me anything.

[He bows his head slightly, and then aims a punch toward Waver's jaw. The punch is just a distraction, though, for the leg sweep that will follow quickly after it unless Waver moves out of the way.]

[fionnuisce]

[Waver moved pretty quickly for someone that hadn't cast strengthening or reinforcement magic on themselves just yet; he started to raise his arm in a block before realizing what Lancer's attack was really aiming for. It took barely half a second for Waver to correct himself, punch missing him by millimiters as he backed away in a few quick motions before returning with a knifehand strike aimed at Lancer's arm.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid nods slightly to himself taking note of how fast Waver is. It's pretty impressive for someone who doesn't have any physical enhancements going on and hasn't been training since childhood.

Because it seems Waver has no enhancements going on at the moment, though, Diarmuid lets the man's blow connect with his arm. Just as soon as it does, he grabs for the Waver's hand intending to catch a hold of it and pull to both bring him in closer and pull him off balance so that the servant's next punch won't be so easily dodged.]

[fionnuisce]

--?!

[When he said he couldn't stand up to a Servant, Waver definitely meant it. He was skilled, especially for someone self-taught. He was caught off guard but snapped out of it quickly, calculating and recalculating a hundred possible strategies at the speed of thought.]

[Regaining his balance was simple enough; blocking Diarmuid's next strike was painful but not a complicated matter. From there he could either twist his arm out of the Servant's grasp or mount a counterattack and force them to separate. The former left him open for an attack if Lancer was fast enough--and of course he would be-- and the second could be blocked far too easily even at this range. So Waver opted to take a third option; taking a hold of his own on the Servant's hand and moving to sweep his legs in an attempt to throw him to the ground.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Much as when fighting Suzaku, Diarmuid is impressed at how fast Waver is thinking through his options as things change. Maybe it's just because he hasn't had the chance to fight many humans, but for them it seems insanely fast. He supposes it has a lot to do with being able to keep focused during a battle no matter how hard it is. That is a trait not many people have anymore.

However, the option Waver chooses really won't get him too far as all Diarmuid has to do is leap into the air to avoid the sweep and this movement is something that is very simple for him. He almost decides to drag the man up with him just to see his reaction, but since it might end up with him getting hurt, Diarmuid just chooses to let him go, and flip up and away instead.]

[fionnuisce]

[He really should have expected that. But on the range of mistakes he could have made, that was a reasonably small one. Being returned to a starting distance with little damage sustained on either side was a more than acceptable outcome. Waver waited for Diarmuid to make another move; against a stronger opponent, it was idiotic to just charge in and start attacking.]

You're just as fast as I remember.

[Reacting was the safer option, especially considering his particular style of martial arts. Aikido was meant for moving with an opponent, redirecting their momentum and using it against them. It suited Waver well enough, lacking solid physical strength as he was. And in the time it took before he launched an attack, Waver could calculate any number of possible actions and their inevitable outcomes. All that he needed to do from there was predict the correct one.]

[oathshackledbird]

Glad to know this place hasn't caused me to lose my touch. You are quite impressive as well.

[He smiles and then launches himself into the air aiming to leap over Waver's head and land behind the other man. Diarmuid would like to use that moment of disorientation and surprise to get an arm around Waver's neck so he can either pin the man against himself or unbalance and take him to the ground.

It seems whatever Waver's style is, it favors reacting to acting. That is fine, unless by the time the person is able to react, they have no way of moving to do so...]

[fionnuisce]

[Goddammit that was so not even fair.]

[And that was basically all Waver had time to even think before he found himself pinned and desperately trying to keep his balance. It was all he could do not to start complaining about the injustice of it all right on the spot.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid holds onto Waver for a moment--mostly to make sure the other man doesn't fall--and then releases him, bursting into laughter as he does so.

The look on the other man's face had been so worth it.]

Sorry... Oh, not really. Your face. I know...that wasn't very fair...

[fionnuisce]

Wh--hey, quit laughing at me! It wasn't that funny, was it?!

[Being Waver is suffering.]

[oathshackledbird]

Sorry! Sorry!

[Diarmuid pauses to pull himself together and wipe his eyes.]

You are just so serious now. For just a moment, though, you looked like your young self again.

[fionnuisce]

...I'm not that serious, am I? I know I've changed a lot, but I didn't really think it was that extreme.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid crosses to Waver and puts a hand on either of his shoulders.]

No, but it is all to easy to forget how to have fun here. I would prefer you don't do that yourself or let me do it. I'm pretty serious myself as you might remember.

[fionnuisce]

Believe me, I do.

[Sigh.]

I have to admit, that's the most fun I've had in a long time.