☿ // 007; [video]

[fionnuisce]

So. That month certainly happened. As usual I'll be the contrary fool who points out that leaping directly for Jason's throat was foolish and hastily conceived. I hope at least some of you understand that outright murdering the one person that makes our own deaths a minor inconvenience would be ill-advised at best. When next this opportunity presents itself, I advise that quick planning should lead to a less half-baked idea.

[Deadpan as ever (or perhaps even more so), Waver appeared today in much better shape than he had been the previous month, though for some reason he was currently lacking the usual sunglasses. If not for the frown set deeply on his face and disapproving tone, one might dare think he might have been in a good mood.]

Now that that's been said--and without touching upon specifics--I'd like to hear how everyone else is faring at the moment. [It would be stupid to outright say HEY GUYS HOW'D THE COLLAR EXPERIMENT GO FOR YOU ALL, so Waver elected to be vague.]

If anyone should care to answer that, I have quite a lot of work to do- [He idly held up a number of sheets of what appeared to be parchment, the topmost one having runic writing on it.] -so I will most likely be found on floor twenty-seven in a half hour or so. [And for the next few days without a break, probably.]

[There followed a short pause, after which the severity in the cold and British accented speech lessened slightly.]

...My disapproval of the methods aside, congratulations. Ill-advised or not, you did accomplish something. Don't allow yourselves to think this a failure.

Comments

[Video]

[roses_remembered]

[A small face wavers in and out of focus a moment before settling.]

Did something happen...?

[Video]

[fionnuisce]

From what I've heard, yes.

[Oh, damn. He couldn't quite bring himself to keep up the frown or miserable tone talking to a kid.]

[Video]

[roses_remembered]

Is everyone okay?

[This place is still very confusing to Ib.]

video

[puppy_lancer]

...Thanks, Waver.

[Lancer mutters, looking downcast.]

Are those runes? I can help with those things if you need it.

[fionnuisce]

Don't thank me, I'm still absolutely livid anyone took this stupid risk at all.

[But he sighed, dropping the matter for now.]

Thank you, but I don't need help with this--it's transliterated English. Magi tend to do that on occasion for what one might call sensitive information. In this case, the finer details of some specific magecraft.

[puppy_lancer]

Ah, alright.

...What, are you working on giving a certain person a special surprise?

[He seems to perk up, giving Waver a naughty grin.]

[Action-Floor 27]

[oathshackledbird]

If you ask Riki to move your room here, I might have to become cross with you.

[After seeing Waver's post, Diarmuid wastes no time heading to the lab to meet with his partner. Not only does he have quite a few questions about the documents Waver had flashed to the camera in his video, he also has something he wants to show Waver himself.

That something he is currently carrying across his back and its slim, yellow form should be familiar to Waver. Together with the swords Diarmuid is again carrying, the item kind of makes the Lancer look like a walking armory of some sort.

Since he kind of is between two swords and two spears, the comparison would be accurate.]

What have you found to get into trouble with now?

[fionnuisce]

And I wouldn't have even thought to do that if you hadn't just put the idea in my head.

[He didn't even look up as he spoke, looking over lines of one of the pages written in runes intently.]

These? Letters from beyond the grave upon which I've been metaphorically dancing for years. [Without so much as glancing back at Diarmuid, the lecturer held up another page in neatly written English--definitely not by Waver's own hand. It seemed to be part of a document, that page broadly explaining the use of a particular Mystic Code.]

I don't suppose you recognize that handwriting, do you?

[oathshackledbird]

You are perfectly free to forget I said a word then.

[Diarmuid looks closely at the page Waver is holding up. His first thought is to say no, but something makes him pause and look more closely. Between the very specific subject matter and Waver's mention of 'dancing on a grave' a vague memory stirs in Diarmuid's mind. There had been one night back during the war before they had been driven from the hotel when Diarmuid remembered seeing a letter sitting on his former master's desk...]

That's Kayneth's handwriting, isn't it? How did you get that?

Video;

[no_longer_a_king]

Let me know if you need assistance with your work. [She may not be the most scholarly sort--that had been more her wife's field--but she had found she enjoyed helping the researchers however she could and Arturia does find herself warming to Waver.

That and the fact she can't even summon Caliburn now is making her on edge. Something--anything--to distract herself would be welcome.]

Video;

[fionnuisce]

I appreciate it, Saber, but this is something separate from my...ongoing research.

[Waver tapped idly at his collar, seemingly in a gesture of concentration.]

...Are you feeling alright, if you don't mind my asking?

Re: Video;

[no_longer_a_king]

I am well. A bit tired--[Understatement. She feels weird only being able to use the barest traces of prana burst and naked without her sword.]--but well. Yourself?

Floor 27

[savedbyasong]

[Shion had spotted the video as he scanned the network whilst working in the library. Once he was finished his work he headed up to the laboratory, knowing that Waver would still be there.

He had his papers in the bag that Reno had made for him, and it made travel faster as he didn't have to worry about dropping them all.

He found Waver quickly and stepped closer a bit awkwardly] Hello.

[fionnuisce]

Hm-- [Having been fully distracted by the pages he'd received, Waver looked over his shoulder in mild surprise at having been addressed.]

Oh, hello--Shion, isn't it? Is there something could help you with?

[savedbyasong]

Yes, Shion. [He smiled again, still completely intimidated by the older scientist.]

I just... I have the latest test results from the Blue liquid... we still have a lot to discover, even after unlocking our abilities. [And he wanted to make sure they are right, even though he has checked them six times himself]

Also I believe the new liquid must have come into affect by now for me, though I don't have any powers... so I am not sure if there are actually any changes. I haven't noticed anything.

[video]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

[Lancelot's expression outstrips the word "deadpan" by miles. Irony is the heaviest element.]

It seems you have much to say in the aftermath, Waver Velvet.
When I purpose, as part of a party, to kill a Being, I make sure to have Good Cause-- and the best stratagem that may be conceived among many. The effort was at its heart as much a Test as anything else. If nothing else may be said for it, at the very least, the exercise was not a petty appeal for Revenge. [Yes, that remark has a very sharp point.]

[Lancelot himself appears a bit strained around the edges. Probably this has something to do with his recent and non-consensual fluid replacement.]
I thank you for your concern, but I do not think of our efforts as a Failure. Not every Loss is a pointless one, and Much has been learnt.

[video]

[fionnuisce]

If that was meant as an insult, I assure you I'm very aware of it being deserved.

I can't argue it was a good cause, or that testing wasn't a good idea. Even so, what would all of you have done if you did outright kill him? Presumably that would leave all of us with no method of revival, and then where would we be?

Re: [video]

[chevalier_mal_fet]

So it was, Waver Velvet.
Perhaps it was a remark unworthy of either of us, but having spoken the words, I shall say nothing further on the matter.

Your question is a righteous one to ask, but I cannot rightly answer it. I cannot speak for Others, but for myself, I wished to learn the limits of his Strength and Power-- I had Hope of Killing, but no assurance of it. In truth I did doubt our success, but I have always, as a fighter, enjoyed a contest of overwhelming odds-- and I did enjoy the damage I dealt.

[voice]

[irreverence]

Ok so I'm not the only one who thought that seemed a little fucking moronic. Good to know.

[Amusement tinges her voice, but there's a bit of curiosity too when she adds-]

I hope you don't teach your classes in runic, Professor.

[voice]

[fionnuisce]

I would be deeply concerned if I was the only one having that thought.

[Because logic.]

God no I don't. Magi tend to transliterate sensitive information into runes--which now that I think of it is pretty fucking stupid, considering another magus could probably just decode it easily.

[voice]

[irreverence]

Dude, I wouldn't be at all surprised I mean have you noticed how ridiculously 'oh it'll be alright' people are in this place? It's a little freaky.

[Tell her about it dude.]

--okay yeah, that's a little counter-intuitive. But I guess if you're one of the few people in the tower that can read it, then it's probably handy.

[Video]

[crouching_sin]

[Naoya's jumping right to the relevant part of that. No point in wasting time.]

Those seem rather easy to read, though the fact that it seems like direct transliteration is a little strange.

[And the flashes of what he caught from that writing look interesting.]

You wouldn't happen to need translation help, would you?

[He's bored. And a bored Naoya is a dangerous one. ... More dangerous.]

[Video]

[fionnuisce]

Why is everyone assuming I can't read this? Does no one remember I'm a bloody genius?

[action] floor 27

[keepscalm]

[Admittedly, it wasn't really the topics of discussion that drew England's attention. It was, quite simply, the accent. And perhaps it's ridiculous of him to seek out Waver because of that, but his people still feel so far away from him; he'd like some reassurance that there are still plenty of them right here in the Tower.

Still, once he's in the laboratory proper, England feels silly about bringing that up to a stranger. He watches the man from near the entrance for a moment. The connection is here, as well, but it's not real.

After a moment, England clears his throat from across the room.] You said you'd be here, as I recall.

[fionnuisce]

[The ponytail-wearing lecturer looked up and over his shoulder at the familiar accent and unfamiliar voice. It stood to reason he certainly didn't know everyone they'd been doing the testing with, never mind everyone in the Tower. Still, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in what must have been confusion.]

And here I am, of course. Is there something I can help you with?