Lord El-Melloi II - Waver Velvet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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aterat2022-09-09 07:29 pm
ask_whydunit) wrote in aterat2022-09-09 07:29 pm
Open Catch-alls for September
Who; Lord El-Melloi II and anyone!
What; Open catch-alls for September
Where; The Historium, The Magic Academy, and the Harbor District
When; All through September
Warnings; None but will update if something comes up.
Note; If you would like something specific or have an idea, you are welcome to throw it at me. I am also open to writing personalized starters if anyone wants one. I can match action brackets if that's preferred, this is just my default setting lol. I would love to get this guy some more CR. I can be reached at this journal or on discord @ WhimsicalSpook#8219
So this is the academy? - The Magic Academy - OTA
Lord El-Melloi II (or Waver Velvet to some) had finally made his way to the academy for a look around. He’d gathered up a lot of base materials needed for demonstrations and projects that he tended to use as introductions to magic. It sounded like there might at least a few people who were new to these things, and he wasn’t unused to that. Aside from the 'problem students' he attracted at the Clock Tower? His department tended to be where the new, younger mage families gravitated, given he didn’t view them the way that other old-fashioned departments did.
And, recalling one Flat Escardos, sometimes even the experienced student did silly things or forgot basic knowledge.
So the tall mage had a rather bulky bag hanging over his shoulder as he strode through the halls with purpose. Well… Weary purpose, he wasn’t suited for carrying heavy things long distance, really. So the trek to the Academy and through its halls was a bit taxing on the man.
His keen olive green eyes had begun to take in the building, looking around and vaguely wondering what the place had been like before the disaster… Supposedly this was an important fixture at one point in time, if the townsfolk and what those he’d met since arriving had said was to be believed. Right now, he could at least appreciate the work that had been done to start to clean the place up already and see the potential in it.
Waver supposed he could have asked Illyana to show him around, but he didn’t doubt he’d bump into her or someone else at some point. For now, he just wanted to wander and get a feel for the academy on his own, ducking his head into doorways to get a look at the various rooms as he searched for where the lecture halls might be. He hoped to find a room that was suitable for a few students with room to grow, and a place to store the supplies he’d gathered.
And just as he thought he would, eventually he opened a door and stumbled across a person who happened to be around. “Pardon my intrusion.” He commented politely in a lightly British accent, torn between closing the door again and actually making an attempt at being social. The latter winning out, if only because he should probably get to know the people who might be here regularly. “I was just getting a look around.” He added with a nod in greeting.
Lost Among The Shelves - The Historium - OTA
While Waver Velvet had grown and changed quite a bit over the course of nearly ten years… Some things would never change. He had a particular thirst for knowledge and the written word that often had to be ignored in favour of his recent responsibilities in life. Reserved for small lengths of time during quiet afternoons, post-lectures or evenings in after a case solved.
Here, however, the young Lord had very few responsibilities outside those he had begun to take upon himself. He was more of a free agent here than he had been used to more recently, but he was also in desperate need of a distraction from thoughts of the life he needed to get back to and what he’d left behind that needed his attention…
So the Historium was becoming a favoured haunt once he found his way to it. The tall shelves and haphazard organization were a challenge, but one he was more familiar with as he picked at books and tomes at random to slip on top of a pile in his arms. Today, he was wearing something less rumpled than the clothing he’d had when he arrived. A dark brown coat with an oxblood red scarf draped over the lapels and a black dress shirt and pants, with a grey cravat in place of a tie.
For someone with very low physical abilities and muscle, he was seen to gather rather impressive piles as he wandered. Ignoring the strain on his arms and the almost teetering height of them as he carried his selections back to set on an empty table he’d chosen. Comfortable to sit at and hunch over the pages, slender fingers tracing over the words as he devoured each book.
Then it was back for another wander, finding his next targets… One could ask if he had a particular area of interest, but really he seemed to be pulling from one thing to another rather quickly. Even sliding in some novels here and there, detective novels being his preference, and stories about knights or kings and their quests or battles following close behind.
Eventually, the man was quite diminished by the surrounding piles, looking less like the tall, imposing professor that he was and more like the small, naïve young man he used to be. More Waver than El-Melloi II. It was going to be a pain to put everything back whenever he did decide to leave, but that wouldn’t be anytime soon. He wasn’t keen to return to the Red Building, and he was quite comfortable to enjoy this rare indulgence.
It’s run down. It looks like it’s going to collapse. It’s perfect. - Harbor District - OTA
Perhaps someone who went by a title such as he did should be wandering the noble district for a nice space to set up his mage workshop. Or even one of the nicer parts of the market… but that really wasn’t who he was. He was a temporary Lord meant to keep the seat warm for someone else once they were old enough to take their rightful place at the head of the El-Melloi family. It had just been slightly amusing, perhaps, for Reines to see the man who caused Kayneth so much trouble filling the role. Especially given he was a third generation third rate, to have him sitting at the table with the likes of the other Lords was somewhat hilarious.
He had refused to live at the family estate, between wanting to maintain some semblance of freedom and the idea of living in the same house that Kayneth once had, gave him indigestion. Plus… Being easy access for Reine’s teasing would probably age him faster. He had begun to care for his adoptive younger sister, but she still grated on his nerves at times.
Ruffling his feathers was her favourite sport, after all.
His preferences to avoid reminders of some places or people aside, there was something to be said for an uninviting space when you were more or less a social hermit by nature. Harry Dresden had warned him that the harbor district was dangerous, yes, but that also meant he wouldn’t be as likely to be pestered by locals for things that most tended to assume mages were good for. He could conduct magical experiments and research in peace, with only a bounded field to ward off the more brave and a dilapidated appearance to keep the faint of heart from approaching.
For those few anomalies in between...? Well, in exchange for peace and security he might consider mixing some compounds and potions for payment or assisting with some light magecraft if needed. As long as their request wasn't too much of a pain in his ass or above his skill level.
He had finally happened upon an old stonework building that might have been a small tavern at one time by the looks of the faded sign hanging on by one link and swinging faintly in the breeze coming in from the docks. The bricks were crumbling in places, and there was some stubborn plant life splitting the walls in other places as it fought to keep a hold. The windows were caked with dust and dirt, which unfortunately kept him from seeing the inside without going in… But even that was a selling feature. If he couldn’t see in, then no one else could. “Perfect…” He mumbled, nodding his head slightly as he moved to the door, tilting his head as he found the doorknob was stuck, rusted shut.
Well, that wasn’t too much of a problem. Breaking in would be easy enough with a little patience... He’d have to replace the doorknob, anyway. Then he frowned lightly. Glancing over his shoulder, he offered a tired sigh. “If you’re looking to rob me, you should know I have very little of value on me at the moment.”
What; Open catch-alls for September
Where; The Historium, The Magic Academy, and the Harbor District
When; All through September
Warnings; None but will update if something comes up.
Note; If you would like something specific or have an idea, you are welcome to throw it at me. I am also open to writing personalized starters if anyone wants one. I can match action brackets if that's preferred, this is just my default setting lol. I would love to get this guy some more CR. I can be reached at this journal or on discord @ WhimsicalSpook#8219
So this is the academy? - The Magic Academy - OTA
Lord El-Melloi II (or Waver Velvet to some) had finally made his way to the academy for a look around. He’d gathered up a lot of base materials needed for demonstrations and projects that he tended to use as introductions to magic. It sounded like there might at least a few people who were new to these things, and he wasn’t unused to that. Aside from the 'problem students' he attracted at the Clock Tower? His department tended to be where the new, younger mage families gravitated, given he didn’t view them the way that other old-fashioned departments did.
And, recalling one Flat Escardos, sometimes even the experienced student did silly things or forgot basic knowledge.
So the tall mage had a rather bulky bag hanging over his shoulder as he strode through the halls with purpose. Well… Weary purpose, he wasn’t suited for carrying heavy things long distance, really. So the trek to the Academy and through its halls was a bit taxing on the man.
His keen olive green eyes had begun to take in the building, looking around and vaguely wondering what the place had been like before the disaster… Supposedly this was an important fixture at one point in time, if the townsfolk and what those he’d met since arriving had said was to be believed. Right now, he could at least appreciate the work that had been done to start to clean the place up already and see the potential in it.
Waver supposed he could have asked Illyana to show him around, but he didn’t doubt he’d bump into her or someone else at some point. For now, he just wanted to wander and get a feel for the academy on his own, ducking his head into doorways to get a look at the various rooms as he searched for where the lecture halls might be. He hoped to find a room that was suitable for a few students with room to grow, and a place to store the supplies he’d gathered.
And just as he thought he would, eventually he opened a door and stumbled across a person who happened to be around. “Pardon my intrusion.” He commented politely in a lightly British accent, torn between closing the door again and actually making an attempt at being social. The latter winning out, if only because he should probably get to know the people who might be here regularly. “I was just getting a look around.” He added with a nod in greeting.
Lost Among The Shelves - The Historium - OTA
While Waver Velvet had grown and changed quite a bit over the course of nearly ten years… Some things would never change. He had a particular thirst for knowledge and the written word that often had to be ignored in favour of his recent responsibilities in life. Reserved for small lengths of time during quiet afternoons, post-lectures or evenings in after a case solved.
Here, however, the young Lord had very few responsibilities outside those he had begun to take upon himself. He was more of a free agent here than he had been used to more recently, but he was also in desperate need of a distraction from thoughts of the life he needed to get back to and what he’d left behind that needed his attention…
So the Historium was becoming a favoured haunt once he found his way to it. The tall shelves and haphazard organization were a challenge, but one he was more familiar with as he picked at books and tomes at random to slip on top of a pile in his arms. Today, he was wearing something less rumpled than the clothing he’d had when he arrived. A dark brown coat with an oxblood red scarf draped over the lapels and a black dress shirt and pants, with a grey cravat in place of a tie.
For someone with very low physical abilities and muscle, he was seen to gather rather impressive piles as he wandered. Ignoring the strain on his arms and the almost teetering height of them as he carried his selections back to set on an empty table he’d chosen. Comfortable to sit at and hunch over the pages, slender fingers tracing over the words as he devoured each book.
Then it was back for another wander, finding his next targets… One could ask if he had a particular area of interest, but really he seemed to be pulling from one thing to another rather quickly. Even sliding in some novels here and there, detective novels being his preference, and stories about knights or kings and their quests or battles following close behind.
Eventually, the man was quite diminished by the surrounding piles, looking less like the tall, imposing professor that he was and more like the small, naïve young man he used to be. More Waver than El-Melloi II. It was going to be a pain to put everything back whenever he did decide to leave, but that wouldn’t be anytime soon. He wasn’t keen to return to the Red Building, and he was quite comfortable to enjoy this rare indulgence.
It’s run down. It looks like it’s going to collapse. It’s perfect. - Harbor District - OTA
Perhaps someone who went by a title such as he did should be wandering the noble district for a nice space to set up his mage workshop. Or even one of the nicer parts of the market… but that really wasn’t who he was. He was a temporary Lord meant to keep the seat warm for someone else once they were old enough to take their rightful place at the head of the El-Melloi family. It had just been slightly amusing, perhaps, for Reines to see the man who caused Kayneth so much trouble filling the role. Especially given he was a third generation third rate, to have him sitting at the table with the likes of the other Lords was somewhat hilarious.
He had refused to live at the family estate, between wanting to maintain some semblance of freedom and the idea of living in the same house that Kayneth once had, gave him indigestion. Plus… Being easy access for Reine’s teasing would probably age him faster. He had begun to care for his adoptive younger sister, but she still grated on his nerves at times.
Ruffling his feathers was her favourite sport, after all.
His preferences to avoid reminders of some places or people aside, there was something to be said for an uninviting space when you were more or less a social hermit by nature. Harry Dresden had warned him that the harbor district was dangerous, yes, but that also meant he wouldn’t be as likely to be pestered by locals for things that most tended to assume mages were good for. He could conduct magical experiments and research in peace, with only a bounded field to ward off the more brave and a dilapidated appearance to keep the faint of heart from approaching.
For those few anomalies in between...? Well, in exchange for peace and security he might consider mixing some compounds and potions for payment or assisting with some light magecraft if needed. As long as their request wasn't too much of a pain in his ass or above his skill level.
He had finally happened upon an old stonework building that might have been a small tavern at one time by the looks of the faded sign hanging on by one link and swinging faintly in the breeze coming in from the docks. The bricks were crumbling in places, and there was some stubborn plant life splitting the walls in other places as it fought to keep a hold. The windows were caked with dust and dirt, which unfortunately kept him from seeing the inside without going in… But even that was a selling feature. If he couldn’t see in, then no one else could. “Perfect…” He mumbled, nodding his head slightly as he moved to the door, tilting his head as he found the doorknob was stuck, rusted shut.
Well, that wasn’t too much of a problem. Breaking in would be easy enough with a little patience... He’d have to replace the doorknob, anyway. Then he frowned lightly. Glancing over his shoulder, he offered a tired sigh. “If you’re looking to rob me, you should know I have very little of value on me at the moment.”
no subject
"I see. If you are certain..." she hesitated and then folded her arms across her chest as if she were steeling herself. "Tartarus is the direct result of the mistakes of the Kirijo Group." There was nowhere better place she could think of to start the explanation than with that admission. Despite everything there was still substantial guilt tied up inside of her but she wouldn't hide from it. Nor would she hide from the responsibility she felt she had.
"My grandfather learned of the existence of another world where beings known as shadows exist. Upon realizing that shadows could manipulate time and space my grandfather sought to find a way to control them. It was an ambitious and noble goal at first, one built upon the pursuit of knowledge." At least that was what she tried to tell herself. That was what she had to believe. The alternative was thinking that her grandfather had been quite mad from the start.
"Unfortunately, the nature of shadows was much more complex than we could have imagined. The truth they uncovered was that of the Fall, where Nyx would descend upon our world and destroy all of humanity. I..." she trailed off for a minute as shadows of guilt, regret, and a deep sadness danced on her face. "I like to think perhaps that truth was too much for them." It was kinder to think that way. If she thought that way then it meant her grandfather had simply lost hope upon the discovery and resigned himself to simply bringing it about. That was a more pleasant thought than him being some megalomaniacal villain.
"Further research led to the discovery of the herald of Nyx, Death itself. After this discovery they felt as though there was no denying destiny. They determined that death would be a deliverance for everyone." What a horribly embarrassing thing to admit of her own blood. That he would simply accept that as the future was horrid enough. Yet he had gone further still by encouraging it. He planed to help usher it along. It was disappointing to say the least. "They collected Shadows to combine them together to resurrect Death. In doing so Death would summon Nyx and our world would cease to be. One scientist disagreed with their plans and attempted to stop them. This caused a massive explosion destroying almost all of the lab. This destruction led to the creation of Tartarus. It grows out of the ground every night at the site of the former lab during the Dark Hour. The tower is massive, unpredictable, dark, and crawling with hostile shadows."
She paused again, this time to shake her head sadly. "I apologize, that was quite the lengthy explanation." Probably much more than he had bargained for.
no subject
But that was something to think about at a later date. Instead, Waver fell silent in favour of listening to Mitsuru’s explanation about the ‘Tartarus’ she was referring to in her world. He didn’t interrupt, despite the fact that his mind was already forming a few random questions in response to various parts of her story. Though… Some of it was familiar for all that, it was also different. Scientists and mages, at times, were not too different in that they would push boundaries and go a little too far for the sake of some great discovery. It always started off as noble or ambitious… But it didn’t always end that way.
And often times (nearly every time) to his own knowledge, the weight and resolutions would fall to their heirs. Mitsuru’s tone and expression, as she explained, conveyed that well enough. It wasn’t as though Waver hadn’t learned to spot the signs in the last ten years of teaching, when someone’s guardians had pushed a little too far.
It was one of several things that genuinely angered him about society. Harming or putting too great a weight on those who were the future of their world for the sake of their own discovery or furthering the ‘family business’ as it were… Or leaving their messes behind for the young to pick up and either answer for the crimes of their parents or carry the guilt with them through life. Either in turn continuing down the dangerous path themselves or trying to do better in some way. “I see, so essentially it was the effects of an experiment that went beyond what was originally anticipated and triggered a potentially cataclysmic event…”
In hindsight, he was almost sorry for asking for the explanation… But he had, and it did given him a little more insight into the young woman before him. If he wasn’t used to dealing with mages who would be offended by suggesting their family or parents had been wrong to put something so heavy on them… He might have said more. Especially if they themselves were present, but instead Mitsuru was here to share the story. So, as tempting as it was at times, sometimes one had to hold their tongue. A lesson hard learned by him, honestly.
“Truth be told, I am not entirely unfamiliar with situations like this. While science and magic differ in a lot of ways, mages also tend towards pushing boundaries in the name of discovery, and… it’s not uncommon for something to get out of hand or go in a direction not anticipated.” If her grandfather had been a mage in his world, the association would have put a sealing designation on him immediately… Which either meant a preservation of him and his research… Or something more final for the crime of nearly ending the world.
His expression was neutral enough, but her apology gets a shake of his head. “You have no need to be sorry.” He responded, firm on the matter. For one, he had asked for the lengthy explanation. For another, this wasn’t her fault, even if he couldn’t come out and say that much against her family that he didn’t know. “I presume you and your team you mentioned have been dealing with this up until your arrival here, then? Seems like you’ve definitely been pulled out of a complicated situation yourself…” He added thoughtfully, wondering how such a situation was even monitored or handled from one moment to the next. Her mysterious ‘ability’ perhaps having something to do with it.
no subject
How amusing it was to consider that as she gave her explanation for Tartarus. There would be something painfully ironic if this world held any such similarities to the experiments the Kirijo group had done. "In a way, yes." She looked down, clearly a bit ashamed to speak more, but she had come far enough to simply resign herself to the full truth. "After his discoveries my grandfather and his team eventually reached the conclusion that helping to bring about the Fall was the only logical solution. Death would be a release for us all. One scientist disagreed and made an attempt to stop them. His attempt caused the explosion and it was a chain reaction after that." She could hardly blame him for his actions though. After all he had managed to prevent the Fall, at least for a time. The real villains of the story were her own family and there was no way around that.
"I see. I suppose that is an unfortunate inevitability of those who dare to investigate things so much greater than themselves." Would people ever stop venturing into such territory? No. Even now there was a part of her that was interested in learning more about the other world and all that came with it. Perhaps that was just the destiny of human curiosity.
"Yes. We...were unfortunately mislead. That..." she swallowed. "It was quite disastrous." And even if they had prevented the Fall it had been at quite an extreme cost.
no subject
But the man hummed a little about her musing. “That does sound like a potential possibility, especially as we can’t be sure about the validity of what the locals say.” But the professor couldn’t help but wonder about the possibility that the truth was being stated. “On the other end, if we can believe them… We have at least a rough idea that there are people here who existed before the last… I think I’ll call it a ‘reset’ for ease? According to what I was told by one Harry Dresden, the Academy itself was thrown in the incident into another reality entirely before it rejoined this world here.” He folded his hands in front of him, elbows resting on the arms of the chair, and fingers knitting lightly. “So I find myself wondering if there are other places waiting on this other plane to rejoin the world, and if their reappearance doesn’t make the people here more complete.” He’s not sure if they could say one way or the other, though, it again seemed just as likely people could be lying…
But people either being made anew or called from the last reset while only operating off the information they need and gaining knowledge when they needed it… He hummed thoughtfully. “There’s a ritual in my world, one to call people from the past to the here and now. That said, they only retain memories that are necessary due to how much power it would take to bring the most complete version of themselves back. Calling upon them more than once will result in them only retaining basics of what they need. The lives they lived, and knowledge of how the world they’ve been called to works, rather than prior experiences with being called upon.” Sighing lightly, he shrugged and unfolded his hands. “So they may be regaining information as necessary rather than all at once to save on effort and power… But the people here don’t feel like that kind of being to me, so even if it’s similar it’s not entirely the same… But I find it hard to not wonder if it’s slightly similar in some way.”
Waver was sure the decision had made sense to her grandfather at the time, as… insane and unstable as it was to believe that such a thing was truly the answer. But sometimes certain truths, certain realizations, made one susceptible to snapping and making rash decisions because it felt like there was no other option. Lucky for them, there was at least one scientist that had questioned and tried to put an end to it, even if it sounded like it still hadn’t ended things without further issue. “I’m afraid it is. Magic or science, humans are always driven to reach depths beyond their reach… Not always a bad thing, mind you, but sometimes the risks are greater than the reward.” But people stilled tried anyway, and ignored the consequence, unfortunately. Or… slipped enough to embrace them.
Her obvious shame over the hand her family had in it though is still nagging at him, he really does hate when the old leave those who come after them to pick up the pieces and bear the burden alone. He’s not really good at comfort, and far better at admonishing people like her grandfather for their idiocy… But he realizes he has to say something. “It takes a particular strength to pick up the pieces when a mess is left in your lap. When one can’t change the past, we can only do our best to correct the present to preserve the future.” He finally uttered, still unable to call it anything but a mess that had been dumped on Mitsuru. “So disastrous or not… Your world was lucky for you and your team.”
no subject
She did however find what he had to say very interesting. "I would be interested to know how such a ritual works." But it seemed like quite a lot to question at the moment. Besides, she supposed the details of it hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things. Mitsuru was simply the type to enjoy learning. "It does seem likely it might be such a thing, or at the very least a similar concept."
"Mm. And in this case the risks were indeed far greater than the reward." Deep down she couldn't help but wonder if anything they had learned had been worth it in the slightest. Nothing the Kirijo Group had discovered could really be used for the benefit of ..well, anything as sad as that was to think on. It seemed as though it had only brought pain and suffering to everyone involved.
"Ah," Mitsuru frowned at the compliment. That was not something she felt she deserved praise for. Not just because it was her duty, but because they had not been fully successful. "Our leader was the one to truly stop the events my grandfather put into motion." She had simply...brought them all together. She looked down at her feet and wrapped her arms around herself. "And he paid for it with his life." Another layer of guilt to be added. "Thank you, though."
no subject
The interest in his tone was evident as he continued on the subject of alternate planes. “That is my current thought on the subject… The cycle of the world destroying and remaking itself with this void cryst, could mean that certain things are meant to be here regardless of the reset… If it has the ability to move things to alternate planes even temporarily, it could be part of the cycle. But we don’t know enough about the cryst and how or why it does what it does at this point to say so definitively.” But if it was… The odd rate that things appeared here could be a delayed and slightly stuttered version of what was meant to happen, not quite working properly because of the void crysts destruction that caused the old world’s end and this one’s beginning. “I have also heard about death, about this world being… different… I should see if I can have a word to find out more about this other location, though.”
It took him a moment to consider her interest in the subject. On the one hand, it wasn’t hard to explain, nor was it exactly a secret. On the other hand, if she wanted more details, it could turn into a longer story that he didn’t tell a lot of people. Even Reines could only speculate over it based on snippets he’d shared and rumors. In the end, it seemed unfair to say nothing, considering what she’d shared. “I don’t mind telling you how it works, but I should warn you in return that it might take a little while.” And while he had a feeling he already knew the answer? Waver would leave that in her hands, because she had given him the opportunity. He would do the same in return.
The mage felt his frown deepening considerably, though, as Mitsuru continued. So not only had she been let to clean up her grandfather’s mess… She’d lost someone in the process. Someone important if the way she seemed to draw in on herself was anything to go by… When she spoke of her team, he had presumed she was the leader herself, but it seemed like that wasn’t the case either… “Then I’m also sorry for your loss. It’s… never easy to lose someone close to you. Especially under circumstances that were put upon you all by others.” Worse if she carried the guilt of that on top of everything else. Carrying the burden of another person’s life on your hands was not an easy thing. He knew that well enough (even if he would not admit it wasn’t his fault either) that carrying the burden of another life was particularly difficult regardless of how you felt about them.
no subject
"I do wish I had been able to find out more about the cryst. It truly is a shame we could not speak to the head of the Academy themselves." Again, it was a dark thought to have, they should be grateful they had anyone to speak to. "I appreciate the little information the sole survivor has given us but...she seems to know so very little." So many of her answers to Mitsuru had simply been that she didn't know. In all honesty it had been a rather frustrating conversation. "Good luck speaking with the young woman who died. Her name is...Illyana I believe. She seems about as forthcoming as the survivor of the academy." Actually, from what Mitsuru had observed that woman seemed less forthcoming. Mostly because it seemed as though she got a certain degree of enjoyment when it came to being vague and ominous. It also seemed she had disturbingly little interest in finding things out about this place, despite the fact that she obviously held considerable power. Power that could be quite useful. She couldn't imagine a conversation with her being too productive.
"We have nothing but time in this place." It was a matter of fact way of saying she wanted an explanation. "But if you would rather save it for another time I can certainly understand. I would not want to take all your time here." Even if she did sort of wish to take all of his time. He seemed quite fascinating and as if he'd experienced quite a lot in his life. Experience was something to be valued and learned from. Besides that he was quite an interesting man to speak with. Not only was he open to telling her things but he also seemed to treat her as something of an equal. Most adults would be loathe to do so.
She squeezed herself a little tighter before admitting quietly: "We lost many people. One of my companions here," the one she had mentioned much earlier in their conversation in regards to why some may be a bit okay with the situation, "he was killed back home. My father was murdered as well. Then, in the end, our leader sacrificed himself to seal away the entity we were fighting against. Those were not the only losses either." Though her tone held a certain amount of forced indifference as she spoke. They were the deaths she felt the most responsible for after all and those stuck with you the most. Not that she didn't feel strong remorse over the deaths of Strega, she most certainly did. But that one was a bit more complicated and a bit more personal. For the most part she simply chose to not speak on that and keep it tucked away as far in the back of her mind as she could.
"I was...I organized our group. I brought us together, my family funded us, and I gave most calls outside of direct battle. Our leader however made combat calls. He possessed a unique ability that made him far more qualified than I." So, perhaps with that added bit of information he could understand why she felt personally responsible for how things had gone.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to make things so depressing."
no subject
Waver hummed a little, fingers drumming lightly on the arm of the chair. “It would be nice for the opportunity, but it also depends on how forthcoming they might be with information about their research… If the sole survivor of the incident doesn’t know much, there is a chance that the head might not be particularly eager to share…” That, of course, was based upon Waver’s experience with powerful mage families trying to keep their secrets and doing very stupid things (in his opinion) to keep things in their own control. “I would’ve liked to have had the chance to see the actual research materials and documentation for analysis… But according to someone I spoke to, nothing survived the reset as far as they’ve found.”
Illyana… Waver let out a small sigh at that, “Having met the woman, you're probably right… But I do see her at the academy, should the opportunity arise, I’ll see what I can learn.” Which would in all likelihood be nothing if Illyana didn’t want to talk about it, but it would be useful information to know nonetheless… He wasn’t keen on testing it out or experiencing it for himself either way, though.
A wry smile crossed his face at the statement, “You’re not wrong about that, certainly. We do have the time.” And he wasn’t going anywhere, now was he? Not back to the Rail Zeppelin anytime soon, or his space in the red building. He was camped here for a reason, and it just gave him an excuse to hang around in a comfort zone for a little longer.
And damned if he didn’t have it in him to say a flat out not to her as she continued to explain. There was a particular bubbling feeling of anger in him, one that would have likely exploded more easily in his younger years... It was one that sprang up when he was reminded of what Svin’s parents had done to him for the sake of the family magecraft, or Gray for what her entire village had been trying to do to her… The list went on from there, and now he couldn’t help but feel this added to the bunch for all that he had only just met the young woman. But the reception of such thoughts and opinions wasn’t always good, and he’d rather piss off the people responsible than their victims. “Then I believe I should have the time for at least explaining that much if you're interested… But first...” He straightened slightly, shaking his head at the apology. “If you were to try to paint any of that in a positive, cheerful light, I’d frankly be rather concerned. So no apology is necessary. It seems to me that you did what you could with an impossible situation that was thrust upon you and your group by circumstances caused others.” And it was obvious for a variety of reasons why she felt so responsible, but the blame was due on those who’d caused it… Not on the cleanup crew, as much as others might pressure one to think as such.
Again, he could be a bit hypocritical when it came to the blame game... But the young should not grow up to be him, in his opinion.
His response said, he gently pushed a pile of books out of the way to clear the table slightly… It didn’t do much considering the mess, but it was obstructing the space between them slightly. “Now… I presume that if our worlds share similarities, that you’ve heard of the Holy Grail, yes?”
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"Perhaps even less eager now after they caused such a mess." That was another thing she had some personal experience with. She'd kept quite a few things from her peers and from her friends in general, things tied directly to just how connected her family's research was to the disasters around them. "It's rarely easy to acknowledge fault, especially when it has such dire consequences." She cast her gaze away from him for a second and then shook her head. "Isn't it strange that all of these," she gestured around at the books. "appeared but nothing to do with these resets and research?" Now that she thought on it, that seemed rather...odd to say the least.
"If you do discover anything from her, do let me know. I would be curious about what she recalls of this other place she was kept." If only to be prepared should something happen to her or someone she cared for.
Her small frown lessened at his words and she looked up at him with an expression that was almost grateful. "Thank you." There was no denying that she still thought that she could have done more, should have done more, but she was also a realist. They had done their best given the circumstances around them and that had been all they could have done. Sometimes it was...nice to hear those words from another, especially someone impartial and completely uninvolved with the situation and it's complexities.
To his question she nodded. "I have. It's a treasure tied to Arthurian language, said to grant eternal youth?"
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Definitely less eager to admit to something that was a failure, especially if they wanted the opportunity to try again and perfect whatever they’d been doing. Which, of course, ran the risk of starting this whole mess over again and making it worse… So perhaps it was just as well that they weren’t here now, in a way… But it still meant fewer chances for answers. Her gesture gets a small frown, tone slightly frustrated as he agreed. “It’s too strange, while I know some might say it’s only a coincidence… It’s hard to not wonder if things haven’t been removed and hidden away for one reason or another…” It was one thing to think that things might have been destroyed, but if all of this could be here.. Why couldn’t there at least be one or two things that were actually pertinent to what happened remaining?
And if it had all been removed on purpose… What did they not want the arrivals to learn?
“I’ll be sure to share, best to be prepared for such possibilities when possible.” And Mitsuru was probably one of the few he’d intentionally keep an eye out for and go out of his way to inform of important information. It was a small list that likely would only grow if certain people arrived at this point.
The frown on her face relaxing was… Good. It at least meant that he’d managed to say something that helped ease things somewhat. It was always rather delicate to approach such things, and he tended to feel fairly awkward in social situations… But he tried harder when it came to his students and the young, and was better at it than he would think of himself or admit.
Nodding, the professor’s expression shifted to something thoughtful. “In my world, mages have come to use it as a way to refer to an item of great magical power. Rather than simply granting eternal youth, it’s considered capable of granting any wish of the one seen as worthy of possessing it. There is a ritual to manifest the grail created by three founding families. The ritual takes Fuyuki, Japan. It’s considered a rather minor ritual… Though I suspect it’s more likely that it’s kept quiet for other reasons. The grail chooses seven magi to compete in a ‘Holy Grail War.’ This is where the calling upon those from the past that I mentioned earlier comes into play. Those chosen by the grail have usually secured relics and artifacts from famous historic figures from the past, and summon these heroic spirits serve to form a team with the mage who called them to compete.”
Though considering the spirit called upon to fill the role of ‘Caster,’ in the war he competed in… he would argue that not all those summoned were great or heroic… “Upon their summoning they retain all their memories from when they were alive, and are granted a working knowledge of the modern world, but they do not retain knowledge of prior summons in past grail wars because of how much power it would take to call them in such a complete state.” There was a slight shift in his tone to admit that point before he continued.
“The seven spirits called upon generally fall into one of each specific category.” Holding up his hands, he began ticking them off one by one with a lowered finger. “Saber, Lancer, Assassin, Caster, Archer, Berserker, and Rider. Once all seven are summoned, the grail war begins, and the ritual is completed only when one team remains standing after all other spirits have been defeated.” It was a battle to the death, and oftentimes both the mage and the spirit were killed because the mage could easily be re-chosen by the grail if a servant spirit became available. Waver was only one of three survivors, purely because another spirit had seen fit to spare him. “The winners, at that point, would have their wish granted by the grail.” Not that he knows what the hell went wrong when he competed… He can’t imagine that any mage would have wished for what happened, but… The whole thing had been kept oddly quiet, and answers hadn’t been found.
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"From what we've been able to uncover, it does seem like someone is hiding things. I suspect that someone would be the individual who the Aspects referred to as their creator." Though there was a disturbing amount about that individual that was simply an unknown. Like why they had simply vanished leaving the Aspects 'in charge' of this place. Or at least as in charge as one could consider them. They often seemed just as confused as the people brought here. Given how little information he had left them with it seemed logical to suspect he didn't want them to know much. If he didn't want his own Aspects to know, then why would he want the people brought here to know anything?
Powerful people often sought to hide things from those they deemed as lesser. Perhaps that was it. Or perhaps this creator had something more personal to hide. "I've theorized that if this creator is the one that creates and then recreates this world, perhaps it's because they're never satisfied?" Perhaps the world was rewritten once they decided it wasn't quite what they wanted. If it was something like that then it would make sense that he would want to hide evidence of failures. At least it made sense in the context of her own experiences with powerful people hiding big mistakes.
"But there's nothing we can really do other than endlessly theorize." And at the moment she was a bit tired of that. Thankfully he continued on with a slightly different subject, a better one in a way. "Any wish at all?" That seemed like a rather dangerous thing depending on who won. Though, she really couldn't help but see the similarities between what he was describing and Persona. "I see. It's a bit like what we call Persona. Many of ours are famous historical figures or mythological beings. The big difference would be our Persona are still a part of our psyche rather than the true manifestation of those individuals. To actually meet those figures in the...sprit? Flesh?" She wasn't quite clear on that. "It must be truly magnificent." And awe-inspiring.
"I assume the categories reference how they fight?" Again, it was strangely similar to how her own team was categorized. She folded her arms across her chest and looked at him very intently at him. "What sort of wishes did those winners make?"
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So he set his mind upon the subject of the grail war, sparing further theorizing. “Any wish, or so the explanation goes. It makes it an enticing prize worth the risks for any mage or heroic spirit summoned.” But she was right, there was a particular danger depending on who won. Someone with particular ideals could do irreparable damage to the world, and Waver didn’t like to think about what might’ve happened in the caster duo had won. What would a demented serial killer and an equally unhinged caster have asked of the grail if they had ever cared about it at all? Most mages, one could expect, would seek a way to reach the root of all magic… While his own wish had been the stupid demand of a child before he started to rethink things near the end of the war.
“Is that so…? I should like to hear more about these personas, then, at some point. But you’d be correct in the difference. I imagine the compatibility would be more guaranteed in such a summons if it was part of your own psyche rather than the spirit themselves summoned. An ill-fitting team between mage and spirit is not unheard of, and that runs the risk of the one summoned being unsatisfied and killing the mage and either going back to the throne or finding a mage chosen by the grail who is free to make a new contract and supply them with the mana needed to remain.” There were some protections against such things, of course. The contract came with a command seal for three orders that could not be ignored, but the mage needed to be quick enough to use them… And most saved them for the burst of power they gave the spirit to aid in battle.
“Flesh would be correct. While it is more convenient for them to remain invisible in spirit form unless confronting someone given it takes less mana, they can manifest in a solid physical form.” Certain conquering idiots had preferred it despite the waste of mana. Though Waver had eventually realized he had no room to complain, considering Iskandar had neglected to draw mana from him unless necessary, given how weak he’d been back then. There was a slight, nostalgic shift in his face at her comment, though. The wrinkles between his brow easing slightly, eyes softening at the thought. Perhaps a bit telling, considering he hadn’t openly admitted to taking part himself. “To stand by the sides of and speak to those greater than us? It would be a rare and potentially life-changing experience.” For all that most mages didn’t think of it that way, seeing the partnership more temporary familiar than comrade… Waver was sometimes thought to be foolish for being so affected by his experience, unbecoming of a mage… But he didn’t see it that way, he couldn’t after everything that had happened.
Shaking his head slightly, dispelling some of the nostalgia, he continued. “Right. The class represents what they’d be known for. For sabers, they would be most skilled with swords. Riders are known for the mounts or vehicles that were part of their legends, and so on.” Humming slightly, he continued. “It also serves as a way to strategize based on the strengths and weaknesses known for each class.” The subject of winners gets a light frown. “Truth be told, I don’t think the ritual has never seen a proper completion since its creation. The first three were ended without a true victor and the fourth… Something happened, I believe, and a flood of curses overran part of Fuyuki… I can’t imagine anyone wished for that.” It’s unclear who even might have been considered a victor…
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"What would yours have been?" Perhaps it was a bit bold of her to simply ask the question outright, but sometimes curiosity forced boldness out of even the most polite people. Regardless, she showed no signs of regret when it came to having asked. This was an exchange of information, wasn't it? It only made sense for the question to come up at some point.
"I'm certain we will have the time," she gave him a smile at that. They had nothing but time here after all. "So the summoning isn't based on some sort of pre-established compatibility between personality traits or goals?" That seemed...odd and even more dangerous. How precisely were they chosen then? Simply based on capability to be team? "Do the mages choose who they are trying to summon or is it random who one is placed with after the ritual?" While there were certainly similarities between her own world and his, there were so many differences in this that it was hard for her to not ask a million questions. "Is it based solely on whomever has enough mana to match with some spirit?" If that was the case then was the spirit stronger if the mage was stronger?
"I can only imagine how impactful that could be. Depending upon the spirit you could learn so many things from them. I could only imagine what questions I could have answered from Artemisia herself." She had ben known as a tactician and commander, perhaps she could have learned from her. Or at the very least perhaps she could have better prepared for how to deal with the weight of that kind of responsibility.
"I see. At least their name is descriptive." That seemed like it might make things a lot easier in terms of knowledge. She furrowed he brows at that. "How odd that it's never been completed. Then there's no proof that it it even works?"
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He shook his head at the question. “Not at all. That’s not to say one can’t put more thought into the spirit they attempt to summon, but there is no guarantee that one will get along with the being summoned.” The next few questions went hand in hand, so a full explanation that covered and expanded upon the ideas. It wasn’t like they were in his world, and he didn’t have to worry about someone getting it in their heads to try to compete themselves like he did where his students were concerned… “In order to summon the spirit, it’s necessary to have something that was connected to them in life to ensure a successful summon. So, if the mage knows who they would like to attempt to summon, they generally get their hands on such a relic to use as a catalyst in the summoning ritual. To get one’s hand on such an item, of course, can be quite difficult and expensive… So the summon also would depend on the mage’s resources.”
“So while it’s important to have the mana output to sustain the heroic spirit summoned, the summoning has little to do with the mage themselves and more on what they’ve secured that is attached to the spirit. And… There are circumstances where one relic could call upon a different spirit than expected.” Which Waver himself had only come to realize recently due to Iskandar’s relic being stolen from him and used by the thief.
“I could imagine you would learn a lot from her had you the chance…” It was hard to not wonder himself what such a team up would be like. It almost seemed like a pity these persona beings didn’t come with such communication, given they were connected to the person themselves. That said, he would never condone Mitsuru competing, because he had taken a liking to her and the idea of her competing in the mess that was a grail war could mean her death… Mages thought little of ending each other, and there were things he had seen that even most adults wouldn’t handle seeing particularly well. “Not everyone realizes that potential benefit, of course, but it’s an opportunity that one shouldn’t overlook if able.” He’d been, again, terribly stupid and used to having to learn things for himself. Asking questions in Kayneth’s class, questioning things in general, often meant ridicule from the professor and a round of bullying from more powerful classmates after the fact. So Iskandar had to constantly point out that he could just ask for a story instead of going out of his way to read about the king’s life.
“Exactly, and referring to them as their class has the bonus of hiding their true name from other spirits and mages. Knowing their name, after all, could mean knowing what they’re capable of and their greatest weaknesses if their stories are well known.” Not that such secrecy had meant anything to Iskandar. The king had literally inserted himself in the middle of a fray and boldly announced his name despite Waver’s thoughts on it. “Unfortunately, you are correct. While there have definitely been indications that it has the potential, there has never been a proper end to the ritual.” But the potential was enough to draw mages in every time the time came for a war. Even Waver had been trying to secure his entry into the next, before Iskandar’s relic had been stolen.
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"Ah! I see, that makes much more sense," she said with wide eyes at his explanation. She could see how that would end up tapping considerable resources. "Artifacts like that are quite rare and important in my own world without such significance. They must be even more sought after where you're from. I imagine that must cause problems on it's own." It made her wonder if even the relics themselves caused conflict among mages. Her brows furrowed at that next little tidbit though. "How would a one relic call on a different spirit than expected?" That seemed like it would be impossible unless the relic had been held by more than one individual throughout history?
"It would certainly be a lovely opportunity." There was a hint of a wistful quality to her voice. She knew it would never be possible but the idea was rather nice to think about. "I can't imagine how they could not realize the potential benefit." Now that was something she did think would be foolish. "Though, I suppose there are some who are much more focused on the end goal of winning that wish?" An individual that was particularly narrowminded and driven might neglect to think of anything beyond just that.
"A fair point. This battle sounds exhausting with it's need for secrecy. It must be difficult to constantly looking behind your back for threats." It was as though they had to account for every possibility of someone using knowledge, power, or weakness against them at any given moment. Mitsuru was quite used to betrayal and paranoia, but this seemed like it was in a level all it's own. From what he was describing it sounded as though paranoia and secrecy might be all there was to it.
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Mitsuru had hit the nail on the head concerning relics. It could literally empty a mage’s accounts in order to win one at auction or secure the purchase of something so priceless. The case at Iselma would have been several times less complicated were it not for one mage having decided they needed a relic, and wanted it enough to storm the residence of the mage who’d purchased it for other reasons… “The fights that can break out between mages is rather frightful on the subject, I’m afraid. Being caught in the middle of it is no picnic, either.” He rubbed at his temple, a frown deepening. He really had hated that case, between the attack on his sister and Touko Aozaki’s creature running out of control, all over a simple Cinderella enchantment that had destroyed the catalyst to summon Siegfried? It had been an absolute mess for him to deal with.
The question gets a small pause, the easiest way being to explain his current situation with Iskandar’s mantle and this so-called Hephaestion that had appeared… But Waver instead took the easy way out. There was another example he could make, as much as he didn’t like the spirit involved. “Take the story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table, for instance. Should you happen to get your hands on a piece of that very table? One could successfully summon Arthur, perhaps… But it would be just as likely that you could get any of the other nights that sat at that table given they’re all just as tied to the story. So if one wanted to be sure of their summon, they would be better off gaining a relic that would be tied to the specific spirit alone.”
He smiled wryly as Mitsuru came to the conclusion that he would have offered as an answer, tilting his head forward in a brief nod. “Yes, that would be it exactly, I’m afraid. Many mages see the partnership as a means to an end, and forming attachments or bonds with the heroic spirit is considered unnecessary by many mages.” And here was Waver, nearly ten years later, wishing he could have the chance to see the man he’d summoned again. He was a very odd duck as far as mages went, though, and they often said as much.
“It certainly can be. One never knows when a killing blow might come from the shadows... Even allies made are all tentative, given the nature of the war and the prize everyone is attempting to win by the end of it.” He shook his head slightly, huffing lightly. “Then there’s the fact that some heroic spirits see little reason to conceal their identities and go boasting based on their rather oafish, overly friendly personalities. The challenges one faces can come from so many complications, from outside parties or within the team.” That wasn’t even counting entrants who hadn’t even cared about the grail, and only sought to commit atrocities.
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"That's a shame. It seems this system brings quite a bit more strife with it than good." If one could even really consider any good coming of it besides the chance to speak to some mythical or historical figure of old. After all he'd said there was no proof the entire wish thing would actually come to be. It seemed like such a lot of pain and fighting to happen all over something that might be real. Unfortunately, given her experiences with her own grandfather's research she knew all too well the lengths people would go to search out even the impossible. If there was even a hint of some greater power many would throw everything they had into uncovering it. The cost often mattered little and the collateral damage seemed even less important. It really was a shame to hear that was the case even in an entirely different world with entirely different rules.
"Ah. That does make sense. Though I imagine it must be quite difficult in some cases to find something tied to that spirit and that spirit alone." With that example she could certainly see how accidents might happen. The entire thing did seem like it had quite a potential for rather large messes. She frowned. "That seems like something of a shame. It's a partnership. Treating it any other way seems rather disrespectful to the summoned spirit." She shook her head and sighed. "Forgive me for saying so, but it all seems rather tiresome." The more he spoke on it the more she felt mildly grateful that Artemisia was simply a representation. Perhaps she could have learned from her, but at what cost?
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“It can be quite difficult. Even those one would expect should only have one person tied to them can surprise you on occasion.” He responded with a small sigh, shaking his head. “A smart mage would mage plans to cover such possibilities, though, or adapt as the situation changes.” Not that all mages were smart, of course… But some got quite lucky, really. He had been very lucky, after all, to have had such a powerful spirit on his side. Despite the rockiness of their partnership at first… The larger-than-life king had never failed to protect him, to make sure he wasn’t left vulnerable if they could help it. It was what kept him alive to the end of the war, undoubtedly, even if he should have been struck down by the spirit that felled Iskandar after the fact.
A slightly wry expression crossed the mage’s face as she spoke up. There was no need to apologize, she wasn’t wrong. But… “While that cannot be denied, there are still those who see the worth and strive to take part in the ritual.” He folded his arms lightly, tilting his head thoughtfully. “Even if to be a proper mage is to leave behind one’s humanity to reach for something greater… We’re all still very prone to human folly. The desire to see something through to the end, the potential to have some wish held dear granted? There will always be those who cannot resist the temptation. We’re all fools at the end of the day.” And it had been pointed out by other mages that Waver seemed to refuse to leave behind his own humanity and become a monster of sorts. To become entirely cold was beyond him, as much as he tried to present the image as such. So he was perhaps twice the fool that most mages were.
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"There are always those that would say the pursuit of such knowledge and power would be worth it no matter what." There was a hint of sadness in her tone there that spoke of someone that had seen that first hand. She blinked at his admission about humanity though. "What do you mean you must leave behind your humanity?"
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To be fair, Reines had asked him to look into the situation from the clock tower for her while she was stuck at Iselma. He was the one who made the trip with his students and inserted himself directly into the situation with the intent of helping clear her name. She had been quite annoyed at first, but she was his sister. Related by blood or not… And he wasn’t about to let her be framed for murder.
Adapting was something that not all mages could do, Waver had gotten rather good at it purely out of a desperate attempt to survive absurd situations time and time again… But a lot of mages were rather full of themselves and overconfident in their reputation and abilities. Adapting was not something easily done for some, which was how many came to meet their end.
“Exactly, so while it seems a potentially pointless struggle? It’s hard to not try at all.” He responded, shaking his head. Her question gets a thoughtful pause, though. Chatting with Mitsuru like this, her maturity and way of looking at things, honestly made it easy to forget she wasn’t a mage herself. “In mage society, unfortunately, it is often thought that things like kindness, compassion, and forming attachments are a sign of weakness. One must be able to turn off their emotions at times and make potentially difficult, if not terrible, decisions for their family magecraft in pursuit of the root of all magic. Those who can’t do that aren’t expected to make it far as a mage, at least based on the majority of mage society.”
And Waver, for all that he tried to fit the image, was one such mage that was unable to do it. He cared about the lives of others, down to the smallest creature at times. He could be emotional, and awkward, and terribly foolish and form attachments where they were often seen as unnecessary. Even encouraging friendship and attachments between his students who clearly needed them… But one could also point out that it was probably part of why his class was so loyal to him, compared to students in other classes.
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Somehow it really wasn't surprising that a mage would do that from what he'd been saying. What was a bit surprising was hearing that he had gotten involved in a murder case. On top of teaching he also worked murder cases? What an interesting life he must lead. Or perhaps just a very hectic one.
"The potential for the reward is too great to pass up for some." She shook her head. In some ways she truly couldn't blame them and yet on the other she knew what came of things like that first hand. "My grandfather would probably appreciate that." Strangely, there was no hostility in the statement. "That truly is a shame that they feel that way though. I have seen firsthand just how much power true friendship can give an individual. There's no way to know what mages may be missing by ignoring that." There'd be a certain amount of irony if that was some sort of key to actually reaching the grail.
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“Insane is a good way to describe that fiasco… Every time we thought we’d reached an endpoint, something else happened. I can’t begin to describe the varied levels of that mess.” He rubbed at his temple. The memory was enough to give him a headache. The princesses, the murder, Atrum, Aozaki, Aozaki’s creature… “But it did work out, at least as well as it could have. The murder was solved, names were cleared. It was just a terribly frustrating incident.”
Waver offered a small nod at the comment, “While magic and science can differ greatly, we do share similar drives and desires to reach for the unthinkable.” It was simply unfortunate when it backfired, or they reached for something only to learn that it was something beyond their capabilities. Her response gets a softer expression though, a smile crossing his face. “You’re quite right. I have seen what teamwork and strong connections can do, and it oftentimes is more impressive than the individual who works alone. I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it weren’t for such things.”
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"I am glad to hear it at least worked out for you and all names were cleared." Sometimes she supposed that was all one could ask for: for things to work out. "Do you often do work such as that?"
He was right of course and in a way it was interesting how similar the two fields could be. "Neither would I. It's a shame more can't come to that conclusion."
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Her question gets a small, tired nod. “I do. I am often called upon to assist with various cases involving other mages when something happens involving their work or a member of the family. Some families prefer to avoid drawing the attention of those from the policies department and to have things investigated by someone their family is allied with.” But that starts to slip into the politics of the clock tower and the more prominent families, which is a headache for him to explain… And oftentimes it was Reines throwing him at these cases as a means of paying off the El-Melloi family debt. So perhaps he was being a bit vague. “Other times I seem to just stumble into them, I admit.”
His damned fluctuating luck, honestly.
The professor offered a nod of agreement, it was a shame… Things could go so much further and perhaps end up less of a mess if people could just put a little effort into working together without planning to stab each other in the back in the end. Accepting a concept that was outside what one had been brought up to believe could be difficult for some, unfortunately. "All one can do is keep pressing forward, I'm afraid, and hope to make the case and to see people come around to the idea."
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Mitsuru had little hope of people coming around to the idea, but she still gave a small smile. "You're right of course. I do hope that you're able to see people come around." She ran tucked a book under her arm and smiled a little brighter. "I appreciate the conversation. Though, I suppose I should be returning home. I hope we run into another again." It was nice to have an adult treat her as an equal. Rare, but very nice.
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