middaeg | [ OPEN ] June Catch-All & Quest Log

Waver looks up at his randomly assigned partner with a skeptical look, reaching over to take the bottle when it's handed over but not opening it quite yet. Really, all this going on and this is what he's wondering about?

"I suspect not, if it's so temporary and they're handing the bottles out without much supervision. But if you'd rather pocket it than do the exercise, I don't care."

He's not entirely keen on this bonding thing himself, certainly not with strangers, though he was trying to commit to at least making an attempt. After observing the other pairs for a while and asking some questions of those who have tried it, at least his uneasiness about taking an unknown potion has subsided, but the concept is still uncomfortable to him.

It's not the bond he has a problem with. It's the fact he's not the mage in the relationship, and combined with the whole 'turning into a Monster' business, can you blame a guy for being freaked out?

"Are we doing this or not?"

Oho, he got one with a temper. Good, good. Instead of answering, Caster first, gulps down the entire content of the bottle. Muting the weird taste, because uh, not like they got any palette cleanser to scrape the residue off.

"Hey, you didn't seem very into it, so I thought I'll offer you a way out. But if you're leaving that up to me—" A shrug. What's done is already done, at least on his half. Magical contracts are a norm for Servants, sure, but these ones here... Like them or not, they seem to be a necessity in the end. Unless there is a reliable way to work without Bond they are not being told about. Which, would make sense, really. Coven is made of mages and mages keep their secrets. "Name's Caster by the way"

It's probably good to know each other's name, even if it's temporary.

With an apprehensive grimace, Waver downs his bottle too. The tastelessness is oddly just as unpleasant as a bad taste might have been, and he makes another face when he's swallowed the liquid. With that, Waver... waits. He's not entirely sure what he's supposed to expect.

His temporary Bond partner's name makes his head snap back up in surprise, though.

"...Caster? That's your name?"

His eyes narrow, more thoughtful than suspicious, though it might look like Waver just doesn't believe him. It's been driving him crazy that he can't sense magic the same way here as he's used to. Of course, Lancer isn't a Servant here either, but he shouldn't be able to not be a Heroic Spirit (even though that is also the case in this instance). It had been very strange for Waver at first, but this is the first time it's occurred to him there may be other former Heroic Spirits who have experienced the same, and Waver would never have a clue. He's not a Master anymore. Not even a mage. Not even a sub-par one. He hates this.

Huh. The surprise that flows on their bond is... quite something. Enough to be noticeable. Sure, "Caster" is quite obviously not a name, but most people let it slide. On the other, better not to read too much into it. Not within the first minute at least. He lets out a hum before answering.

"Mhhm... not really. It's more like a title." Explaining the whole bullshit with classes and stuff seems like such a pain to go through. Plus ~~secrecy~~. "I'm a shy type, you see."

But he's looking at Waver with much more curiosity now. He understands being on edge because of the changes they all were thrown into (and some definitely got the shorter end of a stick, the whole "monster" surprise can't be a pleasant one).

Waver, oblivious to the fact he never even bothered offering his own name, presses on. There's a faint glimmer of echoing emotion starting to flow through the Bond, not dissimilar to the connection he'd felt as a Master to his Servant. He couldn't read this guy's mind or even directly pinpoint his emotions, but there's a hint there, if he focuses. Of course, it doesn't include wordless communication, but that's probably for the best.

He hands the empty bottle off to one of the Coven Witches who wanders by to see if anyone needs help or has other questions and waves her away, turning back to his companion.

"What kind of title?"

Weirdly, Caster might be able to tell he's not actually curious. He doesn't seem to be questioning out of a genuine desire to learn more about him as a person, but rather to confirm something he already thinks he knows. And while that sort of nuance may not be apparent through the weaker version of this temporary Bond, Waver's quickly ratcheting agitation certainly is. He's probably no fun to be connected to. He's always so high-strung.

Huh. Adjusting to this new connection will take time, who knows how long. But while Caster can't know from where the agitation comes from, he figures that— doing something about is probably a good idea. As much a benefit for his companion as it is of his own.

So that's when one (1x) hand onto shoulder pat comes from. Thank god he's no longer having Servant strength because he does not do anything to take away from the heaviness of the pat. It's absolutely meant to be friendly, just as the smile that shows on his face.

"One that describes the role you got assigned to play." One that you use when your name is off-limits. "You don't have to give me your real name either, but I'd like to have something to call you... or I'll make something up."

Not saying you need to chill kid... but you probably need to chill. Gotta find way to achieve exactly that. Nickname threats are the way to go.

"Y-you can't just make something up!" Waver protests, grunting at the weight of that broad hand on his shoulder.

Once again, he can't help but think how unfair it is that Lancer is here and this guy might actually be the kind of Caster Waver suspects he is, but Rider... isn't. Wrong Heroic Spirit. Wrong hand on his shoulder. All of it is wrong. And yes, he's still bitter about it, even weeks later. The reminder right now certainly doesn't help.

"I have a name. Waver Velvet..."

(Yes, it does sound made up. No, it is not and it is actually his real name. Don't laugh.)

A pause, hesitating a moment. He has no reason to hide it, but it's not as easy to say anymore either, for... well, there are several reasons. If he's wrong, it'll be more explaining to do. If he's right, actually, there'll still be explaining in order and potentially digging into memories he's not ready to confront in depth quite yet. And, mostly, it just makes him sad.

But he has to know, and he wants to establish his own authority here -- as little as it is, considering how little power he'd actually had overall in the War and how irrelevant at is here.

So, after a brief hesitation and a sharp intake of breath, Waver continues to add:

"...Master of Rider in the Fourth Holy Grail War."

Master of Rider. Fourth Grail War--- if this world brought not just Servants but all kind of people, why not mages? Why not Masters, current and former. Caster repeats the pat, this time a lot lighter, without any force to it. It's like he was checking if Waver is real. His smile grows a tad bit more feral too.

"Fuyuki, I presume?" Who knows how many different Grail Wars in all different timelines happened, but the numbers lines up. And Fuyuki is such a repeated location, no wonder it went terribly wrong, tied itself into a pretzel of doom and death and become a singularity.

Cool stuff.

"I'm from Fifth." Kinda, sorta. "Memories" and "Servants" always being a strange thing, and Chaldea and their system is weird enough that he figures it's probably best to keep his mouth shut about that particular detail.

On the other hands, other Servants probably does not so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ time for the most important question.

"Did you win?"

"Fuyuki," Waver confirms quietly, and then... a pause, weighty and just a few beats too long.

Finally, he shakes his head, very slightly. He doesn't look upset, doesn't make excuses. He looks serious, and though there's a nostalgic sorrow in his eyes, his answer is matter-of-fact.

"No. But it was a glorious battle, to the end."

Till the very end.

For some, only victory matters, anything else is just means to an end. To mages especially. It's all about getting the desired wish, isn't it? Not many of them can recognize and understand what matters far more for the familiars they work with—

Looks like this is the rare breed that can.

Caster's expression softens and there is an echo of something like respect around their temporary Bond.

"That sounds like a victory to me." Glorious battles, fated meetings, and partings. Leaving a mark, something to never be forgotten. That is more than enough.

Waver can feel it, like a ripple on the surface of clear water. Something in him relaxes in response, that knot in his chest loosening ever so slightly.

"...yeah," he breathes, offering a nod, the faintest bittersweet smile. "I think he'd agree."

Rider wouldn't want him to make it sound as though he had any regrets.

Their Bond reflects his ache though, deep and persistent. It's something he carries with him -- a reminder, a bond of a different kind.

Waver takes a breath.

"And you... Caster? What sort of War were you summoned to?"

That Rider sounds like such a swell guy. Anyone who leaves an impression like the one Waver carries about him must be. But pressing about the details such as True Name is in a bad taste even though he is very obviously curious...!!

Then the question comes and makes Caster pause. It's not something he likes to talk about, but because of the Bond he'd be caught on deflection. So one longer hum later.

"Not like yours, I have to say..." Hardly could it be called a glorious battle. Battle yes, but not glorious. It turned the city into a place of death and fire. There are ways to get Servant tethered to the existence without a Master, they are there— but they ain't pretty. At least it got a happy ending in that it got to be wiped out from the corrected timeline, right? "It went sideways very quickly. Something was very wrong with that Grail."

They advertise you an awesome battle royale between heroes, and you get something like that.

[ OPEN ] June Catch-All & Quest Log

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aaah so sorry about the delay!

ahhh don't worry, it's all okay (I was slow too)

phew, thanks :>

Re: phew, thanks :>