For the brief time I was summoned, I considered him a student of mine, in a sense. He was the Master of Berserker of Black, and his elder sister, Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia, is my Master.
She is currently among the new gembonded who have arrived in the city.
There's a moment where he doesn't know how to feel. Caules in a Grail War with his sister - he understands immediately where that could have ultimately gone, even if Chiron's words indicate a different end. Something precious would have been destroyed - any decency in magi sibling relationships is so, so rare...
And then there's the reunion. Waver's lips flatten as he tries to think through the consequences of that, and ignore his own feelings starting to howl on that subject. That would have been... difficult. Maybe impossible normally, given the ephemeral lives Servants live; one has the questionable grace of forgetting and moving on, the other bearing what was and its destruction alone. Mutual memory makes it easier, of course, but the roles are gone and then there are the scars.
How long were they separated?]
Caules has spoken of her but I've never met her. Fiore left the family and life of a mage before he came to me. She's well back in our world from when I'm from, given what he's said. So is he.
[While Yggdmillennia is a faction that's certainly not in play in his timeline, questions about that can wait. Assuring Chiron of their survival back home is the priority, although again, differing timelines complicates that, just for his fellow Servant's peace of mind going forward. He does not know how long Fiore will stay.]
[... There is something to be said for the peace of mind that comes from hearing that even in another timeline of events, Fiore is safe. She is happy. She made the choice befitting of her morals and sense of self, and Chiron is filled with a warm pride as he stares into his phone screen.]
As well as can be expected.
[She was always poised, ready to shoulder burdens far larger than herself. This will be no different.]
I understand that she was never a student of yours, but I would ask that you treat her kindly while she is here.
[A slight hum on his end, unheard thanks to text. Having difficulties, but in control and adapting, in other words.]
Of course.
And yourself?
[Waver expects nothing other than some variation of 'I'm fine', honestly. But now he's been on both ends of the Master-Servant spectrum. The reality is 'I'm having complicated feelings about all this'. Leaving aside Iskandar... if the Last Master of Humanity showed up...
I would have preferred that she had been allowed to remain in her time and era, of course.
[Which is-- such a compromise, a conglomerate of many different thoughts and responses, with Chiron only hitting send once he concludes it is not such an unexpected reply. Surely Waver can guess where Chiron's priorities lie, why he contacted his fellow Servant in the first place.
A pause, and then added with a sigh that only he can hear:]
Forgive me, I misspoke before. I have no claim to her as my Master here. I only wish to see that her stay here is comfortable.
There's a cafe in a nearby park I find is very nice. [And directions follow. It's centaur friendly with an outdoor patio set among the gardens.] Meet me in, say, half an hour?
[Though... Waver will find that Chiron was not in any great need for a centaur friendly patio given that he appears on the scene
on two legs.
A fact that very clearly doesn't bring him any great joy if judged by his flat expression. The implications speak for themselves, but at least for now, he busies himself sliding into available seat across from the other Servant, vague frown only loosening when he glances around their surroundings and takes in the sight of the gardens]
... You've a good eye for this. I didn't realize this park was here.
[Waver leans forward very slightly before settling again at Chiron's appearance, brow creasing in concern. But he says nothing. Instead, he opens the bottle waiting, pouring each of them a measure of red wine, before screwing the cap back on.]
It's pretty tucked away, yes. Some of the locals pointed me this way early on. The gardens are most popular after dark, though.
[he's had a Time, lately, though he wishes it were slightly less obvious in the moment... though he supposes there are perks to such an arrangement when at his appearance, a waiter comes to take their orders for drinks, hardly blinking at Chiron at all.
Anonymity at last. Ha.]
Yes... I suppose I'm not surprised.
[a noncommittal reply once he asks for some water for now, maybe he'll be more adventurous once he's done being slightly... foul tempered. In any case:]
[Waver takes a small sip of wine before settling the glass down. Well. He has his consent to ask, but he's going to take a moment to try and address this with a little tact given Chiron's obvious displeasure. And it's always a touchy subject.
This adds a new dimension to the earlier conversation.]
Mm... [He nods.] this hasn't been too long, I hope?
[While this meeting wouldn't be happening if Chiron was in immediate danger, the cause is a little too easy to deduce, given a Servant's ability to change between forms usually at will. This is not at will, ergo...]
[Admittedly, there is something relieving in not having to walk a fellow Servant through all the details of what has likely happened -- that Chiron losing his centaur form more or less means he cannot afford the upkeep, and that appearing human is the most straightforward type of energy-conservation at his disposal.
... And perhaps that in and of itself is the mark of a wounded pride, the centaur not above feeling slighted when luck decides not to favor him. He at least keeps his temper contained, and takes a slow drink of his beverage while his eyes wander over the space above Waver's shoulder]
In some ways, it is favorable. Crowds will be significantly easier to maneuver through.
[... Who knows if that's a joke. Perhaps don't ask.]
[Goddamn, Chiron. He hopes not. This is reminding him somewhat of Iskandar's stunt regarding his own mana needs and it displeases him...
Especially as he can well imagine what Fiore feels about this situation.
However, the hypocrisy of him calling Chiron out stills his tongue for a second. He, while he has the support of Flat, simply can't bring himself at this point to do what he needs to do sustain himself if he disappears.]
Perhaps. But is it ultimately sustainable?
[Asked in mild concern. Hypocrisy or not, though, he cannot say nothing either.]
I am not going to make demands or requests of her when she's freely given up the life of a mage.
[at least there is nothing in Chiron's tone to suggest he is offended by the meddling, even if his stare pulls away from the distance and settles more fully on Waver, taking him in with quiet consideration]
... A significant portion of her Crest is gone, and my original form is far more of a drain on a Master than my current one.
[so even, even if he went to her begging for this one thing, putting his selfish needs before hers, the strain would always be present, and Chiron cannot pretend it wouldn't hurt him too, knowing he made her struggle for his sake]
[Waver keeps his voice even toned, even as a growing part of himself wants to groan... because he does get it? He wants to protect her and have her grow?
But having been on the other side of something similar, being a survivor and having taught survivors, he can see the mistake Chiron is unknowingly making.]
[Chiron's one moment of grace here is that for all of his abundant wisdom, when he does trip over a mistake of his own making...
Well.
It does not take much for the recognition to spark in his eyes, the sharpness aimed inward, and then the subsequent moment of exhaustion at his own foolishness, coupled with a slow closing of his eyes as he breathes deep and releases it]
I did not think to ask her.
[With a small, displeased smile, he calls the waiter back over because he decides he would not mind a glass of wine, suddenly]
[A noise of agreement, quiet though it is in the back of his throat. His eyes continue to gaze into the simple wooden table, tracing the engrained lines as his mind drifts]
... One would think after all of my years, I would be more mindful of my bad habits.
[His tendency to grasp the fuller picture, leaving the details -- the emotional core that often makes humans so special -- as a footnote for later, occasionally trampled under his need to be pragmatic and decisive for the sake of others.
An understandable flaw but... unsightly in this moment, he feels]
[There's a small sympathetic sound as Waver gazes at the rim of his glass, beaded with a few stray drops of ruby. How very human. He's never escaped his, but it's a little comforting to know even the sages have their moments. Just a little.]
They tend to sneak in in the moments that incline us for one reason or another away from that. [His eyes lift as his voice colors with the weight of experience.] Reunions tend to be times when that is especially so.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[text, after the third round of gembonded arrive]
Date: 2021-04-01 02:15 pm (UTC)From:Do you know of a Caules? Flat mentioned he might be, or might have been, a student of yours.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-01 07:44 pm (UTC)From:Is this regarding his Grail War? What other reason would he have to ask.]
Caules Forvedge? I do. He graduated from my classroom some time ago and we remained in contact afterwards.
I take it you know him?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-01 07:51 pm (UTC)From:Yes.
For the brief time I was summoned, I considered him a student of mine, in a sense. He was the Master of Berserker of Black, and his elder sister, Fiore Forvedge Yggdmillennia, is my Master.
She is currently among the new gembonded who have arrived in the city.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-02 04:44 am (UTC)From:There's a moment where he doesn't know how to feel. Caules in a Grail War with his sister - he understands immediately where that could have ultimately gone, even if Chiron's words indicate a different end. Something precious would have been destroyed - any decency in magi sibling relationships is so, so rare...
And then there's the reunion. Waver's lips flatten as he tries to think through the consequences of that, and ignore his own feelings starting to howl on that subject. That would have been... difficult. Maybe impossible normally, given the ephemeral lives Servants live; one has the questionable grace of forgetting and moving on, the other bearing what was and its destruction alone. Mutual memory makes it easier, of course, but the roles are gone and then there are the scars.
How long were they separated?]
Caules has spoken of her but I've never met her. Fiore left the family and life of a mage before he came to me. She's well back in our world from when I'm from, given what he's said. So is he.
[While Yggdmillennia is a faction that's certainly not in play in his timeline, questions about that can wait. Assuring Chiron of their survival back home is the priority, although again, differing timelines complicates that, just for his fellow Servant's peace of mind going forward. He does not know how long Fiore will stay.]
How is she adjusting, may I ask?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 05:49 pm (UTC)From:As well as can be expected.
[She was always poised, ready to shoulder burdens far larger than herself. This will be no different.]
I understand that she was never a student of yours, but I would ask that you treat her kindly while she is here.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 09:09 pm (UTC)From:Of course.
And yourself?
[Waver expects nothing other than some variation of 'I'm fine', honestly. But now he's been on both ends of the Master-Servant spectrum. The reality is 'I'm having complicated feelings about all this'. Leaving aside Iskandar... if the Last Master of Humanity showed up...
Mmmmph. Difficult.]
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 03:22 am (UTC)From:I would have preferred that she had been allowed to remain in her time and era, of course.
[Which is-- such a compromise, a conglomerate of many different thoughts and responses, with Chiron only hitting send once he concludes it is not such an unexpected reply. Surely Waver can guess where Chiron's priorities lie, why he contacted his fellow Servant in the first place.
A pause, and then added with a sigh that only he can hear:]
Forgive me, I misspoke before. I have no claim to her as my Master here. I only wish to see that her stay here is comfortable.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 04:34 am (UTC)From:You're really fucked up over this, aren't you?]
I know.
Would you care to join me for a drink?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 09:20 pm (UTC)From:The answer will not be very surprising.
... The offer for a drink is, however, and he considers that question before:]
I do not mind.
Where would you prefer we meet?
no subject
Date: 2021-04-18 05:46 am (UTC)From:There's a cafe in a nearby park I find is very nice. [And directions follow. It's centaur friendly with an outdoor patio set among the gardens.] Meet me in, say, half an hour?
text -> action
Date: 2021-04-18 05:18 pm (UTC)From:[Though... Waver will find that Chiron was not in any great need for a centaur friendly patio given that he appears on the scene
on two legs.
A fact that very clearly doesn't bring him any great joy if judged by his flat expression. The implications speak for themselves, but at least for now, he busies himself sliding into available seat across from the other Servant, vague frown only loosening when he glances around their surroundings and takes in the sight of the gardens]
... You've a good eye for this. I didn't realize this park was here.
action
Date: 2021-05-03 10:21 am (UTC)From:It's pretty tucked away, yes. Some of the locals pointed me this way early on. The gardens are most popular after dark, though.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-03 12:43 pm (UTC)From:Anonymity at last. Ha.]
Yes... I suppose I'm not surprised.
[a noncommittal reply once he asks for some water for now, maybe he'll be more adventurous once he's done being slightly... foul tempered. In any case:]
I do not mind questions, by the way.
no subject
Date: 2021-05-04 04:54 am (UTC)From:This adds a new dimension to the earlier conversation.]
Mm... [He nods.] this hasn't been too long, I hope?
[While this meeting wouldn't be happening if Chiron was in immediate danger, the cause is a little too easy to deduce, given a Servant's ability to change between forms usually at will. This is not at will, ergo...]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 12:05 am (UTC)From:[Admittedly, there is something relieving in not having to walk a fellow Servant through all the details of what has likely happened -- that Chiron losing his centaur form more or less means he cannot afford the upkeep, and that appearing human is the most straightforward type of energy-conservation at his disposal.
... And perhaps that in and of itself is the mark of a wounded pride, the centaur not above feeling slighted when luck decides not to favor him. He at least keeps his temper contained, and takes a slow drink of his beverage while his eyes wander over the space above Waver's shoulder]
In some ways, it is favorable. Crowds will be significantly easier to maneuver through.
[... Who knows if that's a joke. Perhaps don't ask.]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 03:10 am (UTC)From:[Goddamn, Chiron. He hopes not. This is reminding him somewhat of Iskandar's stunt regarding his own mana needs and it displeases him...
Especially as he can well imagine what Fiore feels about this situation.
However, the hypocrisy of him calling Chiron out stills his tongue for a second. He, while he has the support of Flat, simply can't bring himself at this point to do what he needs to do sustain himself if he disappears.]
Perhaps. But is it ultimately sustainable?
[Asked in mild concern. Hypocrisy or not, though, he cannot say nothing either.]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 11:55 am (UTC)From:[at least there is nothing in Chiron's tone to suggest he is offended by the meddling, even if his stare pulls away from the distance and settles more fully on Waver, taking him in with quiet consideration]
... A significant portion of her Crest is gone, and my original form is far more of a drain on a Master than my current one.
[so even, even if he went to her begging for this one thing, putting his selfish needs before hers, the strain would always be present, and Chiron cannot pretend it wouldn't hurt him too, knowing he made her struggle for his sake]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 12:51 pm (UTC)From:[Waver keeps his voice even toned, even as a growing part of himself wants to groan... because he does get it? He wants to protect her and have her grow?
But having been on the other side of something similar, being a survivor and having taught survivors, he can see the mistake Chiron is unknowingly making.]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-05 01:17 pm (UTC)From:[Chiron's one moment of grace here is that for all of his abundant wisdom, when he does trip over a mistake of his own making...
Well.
It does not take much for the recognition to spark in his eyes, the sharpness aimed inward, and then the subsequent moment of exhaustion at his own foolishness, coupled with a slow closing of his eyes as he breathes deep and releases it]
I did not think to ask her.
[With a small, displeased smile, he calls the waiter back over because he decides he would not mind a glass of wine, suddenly]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-06 12:49 pm (UTC)From:[That would have probably hurt her. At least Chiron immediately realizes. Mmmm... he himself probably wouldn't be so self aware, would he?]
That's a conversation worth having, then.
[Just at least so everything's aired and dealt with.]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-09 04:57 am (UTC)From:[A noise of agreement, quiet though it is in the back of his throat. His eyes continue to gaze into the simple wooden table, tracing the engrained lines as his mind drifts]
... One would think after all of my years, I would be more mindful of my bad habits.
[His tendency to grasp the fuller picture, leaving the details -- the emotional core that often makes humans so special -- as a footnote for later, occasionally trampled under his need to be pragmatic and decisive for the sake of others.
An understandable flaw but... unsightly in this moment, he feels]
no subject
Date: 2021-05-11 11:01 am (UTC)From:They tend to sneak in in the moments that incline us for one reason or another away from that. [His eyes lift as his voice colors with the weight of experience.] Reunions tend to be times when that is especially so.