towerofanimus | just this once, everybody lives!

I'll take what I can get at this point. Sounds like things could have gone worse.

[The silver maid brought over and placed a chair, which Waver took without a second thought.]

Are you injured? Sorry, I should have asked that first.

We would have definitely been worse off had we not decoded the collar fluid. Anything made of film was as nothing against his defenses, but real weapons and abilities worked.

[She offers a small smile at that, knowing through her own work with Doc Brown how much Waver had put into that project. Then she grips at her bloodied shoulder, wincing slightly as she tests it.]

It is all right - Yukiko's healing kept us all going. I am fine, aside from catching a bit of shrapnel at the very end.

[Waver seemed satisfied with that answer, despite how much he was frowning--there wasn't any sort of complaint or objection raised. Knowing the endless hours without sleep had amounted to something worthwhile was reassuring in its own way.]

I'm running considerably low on magical energy and I'm a miserable healer on top of that, but I can make an attempt at closing that laceration if it would make things easier for you.

[Somehow, she's not bothered by the continued frowning. Can't imagine why.]

Oh, I could not ask you to do that if you are drained yourself. I will treat it once I have regained some of my own strength.

[Silly selfless hero types.]

...With all due respect, I'm not the one bleeding here. What I was actually saying was 'I'm going to make an attempt at healing that unless you would begin hitting me for doing so.'

[Open mouth. Close mouth. She clearly wants to protest, but either through lack of energy or lack of arguments, she eventually lets the hand covering the wound drop to her lap.]

... I cannot say I am fond of the idea of more fighting today. Just... do not over-exert yourself.

Good to know we're on relatively the same page. Give me just a moment.

[Strangely, before he did anything else Waver reached up to take out the small metallic clasp that held his ponytail in place. There was little choice but to fall back on his reserves when it came to magical energy; he'd probably have to deactivate Volumen Hydragyrum after this, but considering the imminent danger seemed to have passed that didn't sound like a bad idea.]

Just hold still--I'd advise either the infirmary or someone better at this than me once I've finished.

[Self-deprecating as ever, Waver reached over and held his right hand over Zelda's injured shoulder. His magic presented itself in a flickering pale green light, healing her wound enough to close it and stop the bleeding.]

[The removal of the hair clip does get an inquisitive head tilt, an obvious question in her eyes that she doesn't give voice to. She doesn't want to pry, but her curiosity is fairly clear as she watches him work.]

It is still more than I could do even if I were not exhausted myself; my world tends to rely on potions more than raw magic for healing. [Even if it still feels a bit tender when she tests it once he's done--] And it does feel better already, thank you.

Hm? [He looked to the hair clip in his hand before pocketing it.] Right--magic in my world can be kept in reserve by a mage tying their hair back or other small similar things. It's a bit silly, to be honest.

[Ironically enough, Waver noted his own shoulder had started burning--the drain was just short of enough to send his Magic Crest into a loud and angry rebellion. Pushing it further was less than smart; with some muttered Latin, the maid dissolved and retreated into a glass vial that joined the hair clip in Waver's pocket.]

At least I could stop the bleeding--I wouldn't advise moving much until someone competent gets to fixing that, though.

[... There's a long stare at the explanation, and then a short glance down to her own hair - once pinned and braided up, now a rather chaotic mess of tendrils hanging around her face.]

I hope you will forgive me for agreeing on that sentiment; having an extra reserve would be helpful, but hair does not seem like it would be very reliable.

[Her eyes follow the maid's dissolution as she gently massages the area around where the wound had been. Such curious magic... her own almost seems raw by comparison. Waver's advice gets a small, tired smile, though.]

Thankfully, I do not think not moving will be much of an issue at the moment.

[Yeah, she's content to just... sit here for a while.]

No, it's completely absurd. Magic's a whole complicated bullshit system in my world. [Waver rolled his eyes, hand momentarily going to his own shoulder.] I'm afraid it would be a boring lecture, or so most of my students seemed to think.

[Lowering his hand, Waver leaned back in his own chair with an exhausted sigh.]

Did we really not lose anyone this time...? Seems like a goddamned miracle.

Boring does not seem like it would be so bad, at this point.

[She just spent Goddesses know how long dodging electrified wall tentacles. She has no desire for more excitement right now.]

We really, truly did not. [Even with being a veteran at this, she sounds a little awed as well. You always went down expecting to see your friends die, that's just how things were. And yet, here they all were, and--] Would you like to hear of another?

What, you mean not every infiltration ended up a literal bloody mess?

[It wasn't meant to sound cruel, but Waver occasionally had an aptitude for being incredibly blunt.]

Sure, I'd be willing to hear about that.

I meant another miracle.

[Said softly, something of a self-depreciating smile on her face since Waver is pretty on the money there. But she regains her spirit quickly enough.]

I could not ask Zo about our inquiry, but... Aria knows him better than anyone, I think. [Barring Ruana, perhaps, but--] When I asked her if she thought it would be possible, she said she had no reason to believe it was not, as far as she was aware.

[It's a thin thread of hope, to be sure, but hey. They've gotten this far on not much more.]

What--

[The response had caught him off guard, and it showed clearly on his face. True, it wasn't the clearest of answers--but it also wasn't a definite 'no', either. For now, Waver could settle for that.]

So...it could just possibly be something manageable.

[Her grin widens a bit at his reaction (somewhere deep down, she's still nineteen), but she nods in confirmation, leaning back in her chair with a sigh that's somewhere between satisfied and relieved.]

It could just be, if we can win the day at the end of all this.

[A hefty challenge in and of itself, but having something to fight for is a powerful thing.]

[Waver answered with a firm nod of acknowledgment, one hand moving to his collarbone--over a pendant hidden under his shirt.]

Right... [He spoke mostly to himself, absentmindedly.] Even if we survive, it's nothing I would call 'victory' at all if that isn't the end result.

[Whoever Waver is thinking about is a lucky person, she thinks but has a mind enough not to say. She allows her eyes to slip closed in rest, humming her agreement.]

My friend would likely insist we concentrate on our survival before her life or anything else, but I have to agree.

[If Hyrule were restored, but she knew Arturia was suffering her World's will...]

As would mine--in fact, he'd likely be annoyed if he heard me talking like that.

[Waver shrugged with one shoulder, the other still irritating him just a bit.]

But since we're the only ones within earshot right now, I won't tell if you won't.

I will make that deal.

[Her eyes remain closed, but a fond smile tugs at the corners of her lips.]

It seems they both need someone to look after their well-being, since they will not do it themselves.

[Nevermind that she sometimes has issues in that department as well. They're not talking about her, okay.]

[Waver actually laughed quietly at that--he had more than his share of problems with that as well, but hey. It wasn't their issues under a microscope right now.]

Let me guess--yours is the type to try and insist everyone comes before them and works themselves half to death doing so.

[pot, kettle, etc etc.]

More than half, without intervention.

[This is the most hypocritical conversation the multiverse has ever experienced.]

So kind and noble-hearted, yet it took quite some time to get her to realize she has people who actually care for her.

[Halloween was certainly an experience.]

[Waver paused for a second, realizing just how unsettlingly familiar this sounded.]

At the risk of seeming as though I'm prying, could I ask her name? This is seeming...disturbingly similar to who I had in mind at the moment.

[As in 'if you hadn't specified pronouns I'd think there were two of him'.]

[She cracks an eye open, glancing at Waver through the corner. Hm...?]

Her name is Arturia, though sometimes I believe she calls herself Saber of White.

[Please don't blindside her with alternate universe shenanigans she is too tired for that.]

...Wait, you know Saber?

[TOO LATE]

Small multiverse, I guess.

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