☿ // 001; [text; dated to 3/17]

[fionnuisce]

Now that I've collected what I'd evaluate as the basics of this place and how it's run, I'm curious enough to ask for a discussion of general opinions rather than concrete facts.

Particularly, regarding the supposedly confirmed ideas revolving around the state of our worlds. While the evidence supporting our homeworlds' destruction is considerable, I'd still like to hear what people think. It initially crossed my mind that it could be a very well-constructed lie, and while that has become a very distant possibility I'm hesitant to discard it altogether. And if it is in fact true, what happens then? Do you think there is a way to restore the places from which we've originated, or are we fighting for a Pyrrhic victory at best?

And that's not yet touching upon the more clearly confirmed matter of our souls and the replica forms we're using in place of our original bodies. I'd imagine this has caused existential crises aplenty, but let's put that aside for the moment. If the administrators possess the technology or magic to create such close copies, how is it they can't simply take out original bodies along with our souls in the first place And if there is a way to restore our worlds, would you logically assume that includes our original selves?

You're free to answer if you like, or ignore me altogether. It's your own choice. I can't really picture this as a simple matter to talk about without inciting a sense of dread and misery, so I'll hardly be offended if everyone shrugs this off and pretends they never saw it.

--Lord El-Melloi II

[Waver, honey. I'm sure signing your name like that is simply habit by now, but you might give your younger self a stroke.]

Comments

[fionnuisce]

What kind of idiot would take an elevator in this weather?

[Waver...]

[canofworms]

Do you usually consider the weather when you take an elevator?

[Just. Going to start toward the stairs, hopefully will be followed because he is not the owner of the mercurybrella.]

[fionnuisce]

...No, upon reflection that's a sentence I never thought I'd have to say.

[He'd just follow right behind, hands in his pockets and nary a fuck to give.]

[canofworms]

[There may be Worms trying to stick to the underside of your mercury pet. Even mindless horrors need to hang out once in a while in this weather.]

... I guess that's one way of expanding your horizons. Or, ah, learning more about the Tower.

[He's totally not laughing at all. Not even on the inside.]

[fionnuisce]

That's certainly one way to do it. Did we have a specific destination in mind, by the way? I'm not sure there's an umbrella floor.

[canofworms]

I haven't heard of an umbrella floor, either. There's no point in being picky, though -- anything that will hold up for a few days should do the trick.

[Watch your step on the stairs, they're all slippery from the rain.]

I haven't found a map so far.

[fionnuisce]

There should be some materials for a makeshift one on the fifteenth floor, if you feel like going that far.

Diarmuid mentioned he had a list of what's on most of the floors, I think.

[canofworms]

I don't mind, if you don't. It might really be a good idea to find some safe floors.

[Maybe he's just not as used to rain as you are....]

... He's pretty diligent in a lot of ways, isn't he? I'm afraid I'm not totally familiar with his legends.

[fionnuisce]

Fine with me.

[he's english, kariya. rain is really not a big deal.]

...he's a good person, to say the absolute minimum. That should be all that matters even if someone's unfamiliar with who he is specifically.

[canofworms]

Thanks.

[For all his no-nonsense, Lord El-Melloi II really is a very earnest fellow, isn't he? That much doesn't seem to have changed over the years. Kariya relaxes a little more, quickening his pace. They have a lot of stairs to cover.]

That much I could tell for myself. I wasn't doubting your knight, Waver.

[There's a hint of laughter in his voice, but since he's walking ahead he's probably safe.]

[fionnuisce]

Was that defensive? Sorry. He doesn't think much of himself, so I guess responding like that is my default response--usually I'm talking to him when I do it, though.

[Sigh--wait a minute.]

...Kariya, did you hear something?

[canofworms]

Ahh, a knight with a Master like El-Melloi...

[And Saber with Kiritsugu Emiya, and Archer with Tokiomi. Berserker with him. None of the knights or Knight classes in that War had much luck, did they?

He stops walking at Waver's question, hand straying automatically to the concealed handgun at his waist. The Blade Wing Worms stir from their vaguely sleepy perch upside down on the mercury maid.]

--Did you?

[fionnuisce]

Don't remind me--it makes me sick to think about him working with Kayneth.

[Waver shrugged off the matter at that, having stopped on the stairs with a critical stare directed at the water covering whichever floor they'd stopped on. does it really matter RANDOM BATTLE]

[He could have sworn he'd heard something through all the rain; some unnatural shifting of water only heard distantly and only caught out of the corner of his eye.]

...Dilectus incursio. [The mercury canopy above them shifted; it seemed to tense up as though it turned as alert as the magus commanding it. 'Attack on command'; the equivalent of his finger resting on the trigger.] Don't move. I can take care of this.

[canofworms]

... I wasn't planning to move.

[Despite everything, Kariya is amused. He is primarily a long-range fighter, but Waver Velvet wouldn't know that firsthand, would he? He keeps himself and his Worms at the ready anyway, because he too has sensed something amiss on the floor.

It's a good thing the Worms have taken to the air, because the mercury certainly becomes very impressive and belies its maiden name with the small incantation.

... Ah. So that's where he's seen it before.]

[fionnuisce]

[Waver almost seemed excited, strangely enough. Not exactly eager, but he didn't seem like he had any intention of running or shying away from a fight. So when the water again shifted and the source of the disturbance was apparently nothing but a blue ChuChu, the look on his face was some strange mix of disbelief and disappointment. He'd been expecting more, honestly.]

[It wasn't the mercury that moved next, but Waver himself; dropping immediately into a fighting stance and striking out with a few rapid punches and knifehanded strikes...most of which bounced off. All Waver seemed to be doing was annoying himself and dazing the monster. Mostly the former.]

Damned thing, I'm going to hate myself for this later-- Scalp-!

[The flat makeshift umbrella twisted and reformed, moving past both Kariya and Waver to lash out in a quick storm of bladed strikes. Whatever his opponent was, it was taken apart in a moment before Waver calmly reformed their silver pseudo-umbrella and adjusted the sunglasses on his head.]

Let's go. Knowing my luck, that damn thing will rebuild itself and follow us or something.

[canofworms]

[Kariya is impressed, certainly -- his eyebrows rise higher the further the exchange goes (even if the contrast between the ChuChu and Waver's Extremely Serious Extermination is a little...) -- it's his first glimpse of exactly how much Waver Velvet has really changed in ten years. He forgets that he had planned to help (he has a feeling Waver would have made an even more indignant face anyway, so perhaps that was for the best).

The fighting style isn't one he recognizes firsthand, but he's seen enough of the martial arts to recognize expert movements when he sees them.

He follows obediently in the aftermath, his Blade Wing Worms soggily joining the mercury maid, back to its mundane occupation, in guarding their backs.]

... You're a very strange magus, Waver Velvet.

[fionnuisce]

[Waver shrugged in response; his method had been a little extreme, maybe, but he didn't trust a single monster in this tower not to have some nasty surprise to them. Better to just eliminate them quickly, and since Volumen Hydragyrum was already active...well, why not use a gun as long as it was out of the holster?]

I take that as a compliment. [An ordinary magus wouldn't even have gone to the length of learning aikido, even if it was self-taught--he was precise, and that was what mattered. What was 'standard' in the world of magi was everything Waver Velvet hated and lived to change.]

[canofworms]

You should.

[He leaves it at that.

He has to wonder, though, if it's his imagination or if their paths really are that similar. He doesn't, after all, know this Waver Velvet much more than the man knows him. Something to chew on for the road.

Incidentally, though, it wasn't Volumen Hydragyrum that had impressed Kariya, though it certainly is a fine specimen of irony.]

You know, I think I understand your maid a little better now.

[It's too bad the Worms don't lend to a similar sort of repurposing. Though maybe having them bounce on keyboards is close.]

[fionnuisce]

What, this? [He waved a hand idly at the mercury canopy shielding them from the torrential downpour.]

Part of my 'inheritance', such as it is. I've put a lot of work into giving it some more practical uses.

[canofworms]

Yes. I recognize it.

[He stifles a chuckle.] I like the improvements -- a blob of magic should have a lot of applications on and off the battlefield. I doubt El-Melloi had the imagination.

[fionnuisce]

He lacked the imagination and the common sense, frankly.

[canofworms]

Some things not even the Second Magic can change.

[A sigh, as he idly swats a Worm off his shoulder. They're getting quite lazy.]

It's almost impressive, in its own way.

[Considering all else he's seen in the Tower...]

[fionnuisce]

Impressive? I'm not sure what you mean.

[canofworms]

That magi can have such a stubborn personality that not all the alternate timelines in the worlds could make a dent.

[Small, wry smile -- he knows the irony is there, even if it'll stay a private joke forever.]

[fionnuisce]

...I can't tell if you're insulting mine or everyone else's stubbornness, but I don't think it worth complaint if it's me you're talking about.