middaeg | open catch-all + closed prompts for August

[It's not a very full answer, Ozymandias notes, but it is technically an answer. Perhaps with a little alcohol in him, Waver's lips might loosen and he will say more. For now, Ozymandias contents himself with the answer Waver provides.]

You are correct about the existence of parallel worlds, though I suppose I hardly need to tell you that, [he says with a slight gesture of his free hand to their surroundings. If one could still doubt their existence while being here somehow...] The Holy Grail War I was summoned to battle in likely exists no more in your world than it does to Chaldea, but those of us summoned to Chaldea and were summoned to that particular War remember it well.

[The waitress returns with her tray, setting down a glass in front of Ozymandias and then one in front of Waver before placing the pitcher between them. She asks that they let her know if they want a refill or need anything. Ozymandias nods to her politely before she walks away to tend to her other tables.]

Another Servant here participated in the same War as I did. [Ozymandias sits up to begin filling their glasses. He starts with Waver's glass rather than his own, filling it very nearly to the brim.] One of the two Servants that managed to defeat me in a glorious battle that I mentioned earlier. in fact.

[He hums in light amusement as he begins filling his own glass.]

I don't much care for hiding behind class names, but it seems to be his preference to be known as Saber, so I will respect that. If you meet and he provides you his true name, that will be his choice.

[He respects Arthur far too much as both a warrior and as a king to go against his wish to be known as Saber, even if he finds it foolish. Especially now that Arthur can no longer hide his blade. The moment anyone familiar with him or his legend sees that, they will know exactly who they are in the presence of, and all the hiding will have been for naught. But that does seem to be Arthur's way. Hiding.]

[Setting the pitcher back down, he sits back once more with his glass.]

[ Waver's eyes widen slightly in surprise, ears perking forward interestedly at the mention that Ozymandias actually does remember both-- and again at the mention of this Saber-class Servant.

Apparently, Waver's just getting surprised all around at this point because Ozymandias also pours his glass first, and Waver's left staring at it, baffled. If anything, he'd been expecting Ozymandias to either wait for him to pour or just pour himself the first glass without waiting, so this show of politeness catches Waver rather off guard. ]

Wait, you remember both summonings? But Berserker said--

[ Waver has no idea if Berserker was part of the same war as this Saber, or even if the Saber in question is the same one he met in the Coven's infirmary recently. All these various Servants from alternate timelines and universes are very confusing. ]

Hold on. This Saber... is he a blond man, green eyes? This place has apparently decided he should be a dragon?

[While Waver is reeling and seems to be struggling with getting his thoughts in order for whatever reason (Ozymandias doesn't care to put too much thought into figure it out), Ozymandias takes a drink from his glass. He nods at his final pair of questions.]

So you've already met! [Ozymandias laughs in his own private amusement at how Waver seems to have a knack for meeting kings of the past. Even if one of them is a false, mad king that should have never been were it not for the selfish wishes of one woman.] He and I do not often agree with one another, but I have a great deal of respect for him. It's near impossible for me not to.

I met him very briefly, through a mutual acquaintance. I...

[ Waver hesitates, not quite sure how to approach this, or if he should be asking Ozymandias instead of Saber himself. But Ozymandias knows his True Name, and it's not as though this is a War where one's identity could pose a disadvantage.

Turning the beer glass around in his hand, Waver wipes at the condensation with his fingers, thinking for a moment. ]

I... recognized his sword. The Saber in the Holy Grail War I participated in used the same blade.

Is that so?

[He doesn't bother with feigning any surprise. The way Waver says it tells Ozymandias it's a different Servant who wields Excalibur in his world, which isn't particularly news to Ozymandias. He says nothing for a moment or two, opting to take another drink instead. When he sets his glass down on the table, it makes hardly a sound.]

Then it sounds to me that you already know who he is. But if he didn't confirm this to you directly, understand that I won't.

[Ozymandias and Arthur first met one another as enemies. Ozymandias sought to heal the world from its ills through drastic actions that Arthur could not abide by and ultimately eliminated Ozymandias from the War. But the past doesn't color their relationship much. Or rather, it doesn't for Ozymandias. The battle proved Arthur's worth and strength, impressing Ozymandias tremendously, but that is where it begins and ends. As for Arthur... Well, his penchant for self-flagellation isn't liable to go anywhere anytime soon.]

[But they've chosen to trust one another. To rely upon one another in this world. Ozymandias will not betray that.]

[ Waver shakes his head. ]

I understand. Don't worry.

I was just surprised to see another Servant holding her sword.

[ Actually, Waver doesn't think he knows who this Saber is; he knows King Arthur's face, after all, and that definitely hadn't been her. Maybe somebody related to her?

He knows not to push, though, and leaves it at that.

Finally, Waver decides to at least try the beer. Ozymandias had even poured it for him, and he'd rather not waste his money by letting it get thrown out. Lifting the glass with both hands, Waver takes a tentative sip--

And immediately makes a face, nose wrinkling, lips pursed. ]

...mm.

[ It's not exactly a resoundingly glowing review. Sorry, Ozman. ]

[Unlike before where Ozymandias has made at least some small attempts to contain his laughter, Waver's reaction to the beer earns an immediate snort that falls almost immediately into full laughter.]

Not to your liking? I commend your willingness to try it, [he noticed how tentative that sip had been,] but if the flavor is too strong, it is your coin. You are free to order something else you might enjoy better.

[ Waver flushes, embarrassed at how transparent his reaction had been but unable to deny it. He shakes his head. ]

I, er...

I don't usually drink. So I don't know what I would even like.

Besides, this is already on the table. I don't want to waste it.

You have little need to worry about that, boy, [Ozymandias says with a laugh. He might not be a giant physically like Iskandar, but he will down the whole pitcher by himself easily.] But if that is your wish, so be it!

[Before he takes another drink from his own glass, he adds,]

You may wish to try a sweet wine in the future if you're unable to acquire a taste for this.

[More alcohol content, but Waver probably won't make a face like that again every time he takes a sip. After he sets his drink back down, he deems the matter settled and refocuses the conversation back to where it was.]

I believe you had more questions for me.

It doesn't have to be that sweet. But something that doesn't taste like--

[ He scrunches his nose again, and stubbornly takes another sip to evaluate. ]

Burning, bitter dishwater?

[ He's not making fun of your taste as a king, just baffled that anyone likes this stuff. That a bunch of people do, in fact. He's had wine before, and it was definitely better than this.

He doesn't even hate bitter things on principle, but it's clear that being completely inexperienced with beer, he's probably not going to be chugging this whole glass.

Waver sighs. Now he just kind of wants something else to wash the taste out, and he's sure he won't be allowed to just get some coffee while Ozymandias drinks. He turns to wave at a passing server, taking the menu again. ]

Maybe I will order something else... Do you recommend anything specific? You said you've been here before.

...and yeah, after that, I still want to know more about Chaldea.

Edited 2019-08-19 19:42 (UTC)

Stay away from any of the other beers if this one is so unpleasant to you.

[Ozymandias moves forward to lean across the table, tipping the top of the drink menu down with a finger. He's having to read upside down, so it takes a moment, but once he finds what he's looking for, he points a small grouping of gin cocktails.]

These right here might suit you. [He sits back down in his seat, straight back into lounging as he was before.] They are neither particularly dry nor sweet.

Gin, huh...

[ He's never tried gin, but it certainly sounds more promising, and there are a number of cocktails to choose from with various garnishes and fruit. He chooses one with blackberries and lime, eager to get the lingering acrid taste of the beer off his tongue. ]

I'll try this. Do you want the rest of my glass?

[ Is it weird to share cups? Maybe... but it feels like a huge waste of money to just throw a full glass of the stuff away. ]

If you truly have no desire to finish it...

[Ozymandias gestures for Waver to push the glass over to his side of the table, clearly not bothered by the prospect of sharing glasses. He's very nearly done with his own first glass and would be refilling it momentarily anyway.]

I truly don't.

[ Waver slides it over, glancing around for the waitress impatiently. No luck yet. ]

Right. So.

Chaldea...? Let's start with: what is that name even referring to?

[Ozymandias can't help but chuckle warmly at Waver's aversion to the beer as he does actually polish off the rest of his first glass. To Waver's question, however, he raises a slight eyebrow.]

That was not explained to you? [He moves his now empty glass out of the way to move Waver's glass more properly in front of himself. Ozymandias would think something so basic would have already been explained to Waver if he already knew even a little of Chaldea's structure and mission.] It refers to both an organization and its laboratory.

The person explaining it to me is rarely in a sharing or talkative mood. I barely got anything out of him.

I gathered it was a place, but it seemed like something more, so... I see. That makes sense. And this organization is in charge of... protecting humanity, as you say? What sort of threat was it built to withstand?

Oh--

[ The cocktail finally makes an appearance (pretty quickly, actually), and the waitress takes the menu again as Waver pauses to thank her. He gives the drink a stir, peering at the fresh fruit in it with only slightly dubious enthusiasm.

When he takes a small sip this time, he doesn't make as much of a face. A little -- the alcohol flavor is still stronger than he expected -- but not the same affronted nose-wrinkle from before. Under the sharp alcoholic flavor is a freshness, and then the sweetness of the fruit, which makes it actually enjoyable after he can get used to the burn. ]

You were right. This is better.

[ Waver raises his glass in a small 'cheers' motion in thanks. ]

[Ozymandias is able to narrow down fairly quickly which Servant proved so unhelpful in answering Waver's questions. He hums thoughtfully and quietly to himself as Waver busies himself with his drink. Ozymandias imagines that in this regard, this one time, it's less a matter of willingness to talk (as it so often is with Berserker), but that he may truly not have the answers that Waver is asking of Ozymandias. The Mad King sees himself merely as a weapon; it is exactly as the more insolent mages so often speak of Servants. The reason for his Master's commands matter little, only that he has been commanded and he will see it through to the end regardless of if there is any personal sacrifice involved.]

[He doesn't assume that Berserker is content with things being that way -- he doesn't think the man even truly knows what it is to feel content anymore without being told that's what it is, he's such a shadow of his true self -- but rather that Berserker sees no reason not to maintain that simplicity. There's simply no desire for things to be otherwise. He will be as he is meant to be.]

[Nothing more, nothing less.]

[Ozymandias' thoughts leave Berserker as he huffs a small laugh, raising his glass a little in return. Somehow, his smile is even more confident and self-assured than it was before, but what else can he do when he is being told he was right?]

I was not summoned when the organization was at its height, but its intention was to be capable of ensuring the future of humanity. They have a device that monitors the past and future of humanity. Any anomalies would be addressed by teams of Masters and Servants.

[He laughs again, equal parts amused and proud.]

They now have only a skeletal crew and one Master with incredibly limited potential, but they have come quite far. That's evident in that they were capable of successfully summoning me. [As Waver can likely no doubt guess, Ozymandias isn't a Servant easily sustained by a weaker Master.] I believe they may very well have the strength and determination to do as they intended, but only time will trully tell.

It sounds very... technologically advanced.

[ Among other things. Waver stirs his drink idly, ice clinking in his glass as he digests this new information, ears curiously perked and facing Ozymandias at full attention. ]

I'm still having trouble understanding how one Master can sustain a large number of Servants, but maybe there's some sort of technological assistance-- or magecraft based assistance, of course. Or both?

[ He's just thinking out loud. ]

What do you mean 'anomalies' in the past and future? To have the ability to monitor time-- Well, the past is one thing, I suppose. Already, that's a strenuous enough task magically, but monitoring the future seems insanely difficult, considering the infinite nature of possibility.

How would a device like that even be able to pinpoint a supposedly anomalous future when the very nature of what's possible is in its unknowability?

[ This is sounding more and more impossible -- or, rather, improbably and very impressive -- by the moment, even with advances in technology and magecraft together. Of course, one would argue that their current circumstances are equally, if not more, impossible. He's not discounting it, but trying to understand how it works is... a nerd's idea of fun, apparently. His tail is wagging and everything. ]

[Being a witch now has not somehow gifted Ozymandias with a sudden strong interest in magecraft. His interest in it within this world is merely a means to an end of regaining equivalent power that he, as the absolute pharaoh and the embodiment of the Sun, ought to possess. Thus, the longer Waver goes on with his questions, the more Ozymandias starts to... Ignore him.]

[First, Ozymandias' gaze drifts to his beer, swirling the liquid around a little in his glass before he takes another drink. He then shifts to slouch a little further in his seat, turning completely to rest his legs over the seat beside him. Then, he's looking at the ceiling with a quiet sigh.]

[That is until he hears the gentle thump, thump, thump, thump. He sits up, taking a moment to find the source until he finds it to be Waver's tail. He snorts softly before sitting back upright and looking at his rather poor drinking companion. (It is not an unfair description given that Ozymandias is already one glass ahead and bored to death right now.) He gives it one more question pondered aloud before he interrupts.]

Waver. [He waits until he has his full attention before,] You're doing it again.

[ The thumping stops. Waver's gaze refocuses on Ozymandias in the present, pulled out of his spiraling nerdmage conjectures. ]

...ah.

[ At least he has the decency to look a little embarrassed, cheeks coloring as he breaks away from Ozymandias's flat stare to intently stir his drink instead. ]

The questions. Right. I know. It's a bad habit, getting carried away...

But you have to admit it's a lot to take in for me!

I don't fault you for your curiosity or interest. I would expect nothing less from a mage, particularly one of your intelligence.

[He shakes his head a little.]

But such things are of no interest to me. It makes for poor conversation over drinks. Especially since you still have not fully explained how it is you came to be the King of Conqueror's vassal, only how you came to once be his Master. [Ozymandias sighs a little before chuckling.] I suppose I should simply ask Iskandar...

He would be much less prone to distraction and spare no details.

[ Well, Waver doesn't think it makes for poor conversation at all, but he can take a hint... after several hints...

Ears sulkily drooping, Waver buries his face back in his drink, doing a poor job of hiding the flush, and takes several long sips to keep from snapping in response. This cocktail is much easier drinking, and the taste is almost good, apart from the alcoholic sharpness he's still getting used to. ]

...fine.

I'm not trying to hide it. It's simple. I wasn't a good Master. I could never be, I knew that. So... I relinquished my rights as a Master of that War and--

[ Even with Iskandar here with him again, it's not easy to talk about. Everything about those days comes with a tangle of complicated feelings that make his chest go tight, the memories a little too raw. It's better now; it doesn't come with the awful pang of loss, even if he still has to actively reassure himself that Iskandar really is alive. The Bond helps, of course.

Waver exhales, setting his glass back down with a thunk. ]

After that, I rode with him to one last battle, not as a Master, but as... a friend.

He asked me to be his vassal. I accepted.

[Ozymandias is perhaps a bit skeptical about whether or not Waver could ever be a good Master. Sure, he doesn't really seem to have the bravery required to truly take part in a Holy Grail War, which likely means he wouldn't have the stomach to do what's asked of him as a participant, but he does have his intelligence. Ozymandias doesn't doubt that Iskandar's strength was integral to his survival, but it would be a mistake to not also consider Waver's cunning as another important factor. Who knows what he might see or observe that other Masters might neglect?]

[But really what strikes Ozymandias is that Waver still stayed by Iskandar's side, drawing up enough courage and heart to follow him into one more battle. Even when the end was inevitable and he no longer really had a purpose for being there beyond what he developed with Iskandar. He was willing to bear witness to Iskandar's final glory.]

[The corners of Ozymandias' mouth draw up into another smile, pleased but also notably much softer than the ones preceding it.]

Then it is as I said before: Iskandar chose wisely.

[He takes another drink of his beer.]

[ This time, Waver's blush looks decidedly more pleased, the way his ears press down happily like he's just asking to be pet. He hides his embarrassment again in his drink, sipping at it steadily; the more he drinks, the better it seems to taste, and every sip leaves him wanting to taste it again as if to make sure it really is getting more agreeable.

(the reality, of course, is that he's just getting used to it... and also progressively more tipsy...)

Waver peers up at Ozymandias through his bangs, starting to feel more relaxed. ]

I didn't realize you'd know each other... [ Ozymandias explained earlier, but now Waver's thinking about that comment he'd made, concerning going to ask Iskandar himself when Waver had been wishy-washy with his answers.

It reminds him that Iskandar is here-- and that thought, the feeling of their Bond like a warmth in his chest when he thinks about it, just having that makes him feel so... warm. ]

I didn't think... I'd get to see him again.

[ The confession spills out, soft and vulnerable, still awed and impossibly happy. ]

[Although it was never in question, looking at Waver now, it's plain to see how greatly he loves his king. Ozymandias is not so surprised to see it as he doubts that Waver would have the courage to show any even mild form of defiance towards Ozymandias otherwise, but he is pleased by it all the same.]

How fortunate then that the gods have seen fit to provide you with another opportunity. [This time when Ozymandias reaches across the table, he pats Waver on the head in a genuine gesture of praise.] Continue to serve him well, Waver Velvet.

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