"For your sake, I hope not." Those were words solemnly said too, because it felt like they both just jinxed the matter. This...this little life was something Roman had fought for so hard, and it would be unfair to force him to lose it. Not every servant reached the grail and got their wish. That was the truth of the matter, and it was hard to not feel real empathy for Roman's position and the mere idea of anything threatening it. "I think sometimes it's less about stakes and more not thinking about the ways something can go wrong or be abused. But that speaks more to her good nature and view of humanity than anything else."
DaVinci was loved in her own lifetime for such reasons, wasn't she? He'd have to ask, and then pray someone like Michelangelo never got summoned. He was a grump equal to himself, by all accounts.
"....Roman if you're about to say that aliens built the pyramids then I want to live in ignorance."
The History Channel wasn't allowed to be right.
Grumping, Lord El-Melloi II withdrew the gesture. "Only because you asked. And the last thing I'll say is that if someone knows you're loyal and refuses to acknowledge it or is this controlling about conversations, I don't think it's right or fair."
"Thank you, it means a lot," Roman says with a quiet smile, that seems a little tired in some way. Still, the possibility is always present and he knows better than anyone that he'll give up his wish if it comes between choosing it or the lives of those he cherishes. That's the world to him. "Yes, I know," he heaves a sigh, knowing he's always harsh with Leonardo. It's something of a habit he developed in his time to fruitlessly push her away. "She's more naive than she realizes sometimes." Though it's admirable she keeps a good heart even with her innate talent. Not that he'll ever praise her aloud. Everyone does that, she doesn't need him to make her ego even bigger.
Michelangelo's not a Heroic Spirit, of all ridiculous fates, but Roman isn't aware of that yet.
"Oh no, that's more," uh, vague hand gestures. Like that cartoon, he wants to say, but the whole affair is kind of bad blood to bring up. God nearly wiped out Egypt out the map, so he heard. "Unless you mean the Aztecs."
Shut up, Roman.
Roman shoots him a pleading glance while he wraps his arms around his laptop screen. Don't do this, Lord El Melloi II, don't make a man choose between his buddy or his favorite net idol. "She's just..." He trails off, "Sometimes she doesn't like when I talk too much about someone else." He admits this. She once scolded him for being 'boring' because he couldn't shut up about praising Ritsuka.
That tired smile was something that Lord El-Melloi II recognized. He had it on his face many times before, and rather than remark upon it, he simply let it pass. It's how he would want it treated if the shoe was on the other foot. "She's got too much going on to think about that kind of stuff," he said with a little chuffed noise. God, Chaldea was lucky to have her. "Did....I take it she had some strong opinions when you told her?"
That was perhaps too prying, but Lord El-Melloi II couldn't help his curiosity.
"Nope!" Lord El-Melloi II declared, holding both of his hands up. "Don't tell me anything, I've decided that this is a road to insanity that I have zero desire to go down. Just...I'll live happily in ignorance on this particular topic."
Archaeology was so much saner than bullshit Nasuverse the other options.
It was the look on Roman's face that finally made him back off, and Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "Okay, okay," he said, defeated on the topic. But they were circling something else, and with all their discussion today, perhaps now was the right time to ask about it. "Roman, could I ask you something with regards to summoning Heroic Spirits here at Chaldea?"
"She's just hopeless in how she admires the way the world is," Roman says with a tired sigh. How she accepts its ugliness and beauty in all shapes, things like that, he's never understand, but he's seen things she hasn't. And he's probably just as bad, but he's a lot more pessimistic which makes him not notice this. "About, er, my past?" He scratches his head, thinking a little. "She figured out I was hiding something about the First Summon." He's tried to feign ignorance but she didn't buy it. She's picked it up from his chat with Lev. "Or about my scolding? I think she's got used to that." She dishes it out too.
Roman's lips tug into a half smile, "All right, all right, no more alien talk. No goddesses from Venus or the Sun. I got it," he gives a nod, trying hard to choke his laughter.
And after he agrees, he slowly unwraps his arms from the laptop and looks embarrassed, ears growing hot. He's just latched to his computer screen to defend his net idol's 'honor'. He's caught up in this embarrassment and fighting the urge to flush in all shades of red and pink when Waver's question catches him off guard. "Huh? Oh, I, sure. What is it?"
"I very much envy that world view some days." That was the truth. Lord El-Melloi II knew how bitter and cynical he was and how he projected it into a persona that couldn't be ruffled by anything. It kept him alive and safe for the most part, but some days it'd be nice to look out the window and not feel well...like himself, for lack of a better word.
"First one, Roman," he clarified. "DaVinci's immune from you telling her off, that's probably a built up resistence. As sorry as I am to say that."
Roman didn't have the mom energy of Emiya or Raikou or anyone. It was more like...the uncle who tried really, really hard but you knew you could ignore him 99% of the time. Unless you were talking about bullshit aliens in which case the things said were ipossible to forget.
"It isn't funny!" he whined, and that would be the last statement on the matter. Forever. Forever.
Roman's defense of his idol wasn't something Lord El-Melloi II was about to clock as weird or even comment on. It...it was Roman being Roman, nothing else. He remained somber, and before he spoke, let out a long sigh.
"Ah, I see," Roman pauses and searches for what to say. It's true he's pessimistic and always prepared for the world, but he also loves it. He doesn't admit it aloud, but he can't help it. Even with all the flaws, tragedies, and unhappiness. "You can still change your mind and rekindle your wonder. This Grand Order might give you surprising new experiences." Going around in different eras, traveling to preserve history, Roman thinks that it'll be a good journey.
Tha-That's unfair. Roman pouts and folds his arms. Should he fear for his dubious authority if Da Vinci's not listening? "I think," he blinks, trying to recall what was her reaction. She didn't look very surprised or fazed about the information. "She didn't care. She didn't ask about my reasons, although I ended up talking about them. She only wondered if she could help me with anything." Leonardo's a weirdo Roman can't figure out sometimes.
Idols and aliens aside, he's finally asking something he's expected to do sooner. Do you want to see if your Servant answers your call? he wants to ask, but the question stays unsaid. "Yes, I can teach you how to operate the machine. It's not like you probably remember," he warns him. After all, the Servants aren't summoned by the Master, just by the Fate system. "If you're looking for someone specifically, it'll be easier if you could get a catalyst." The Servant can still ignore the summon, Fate system allows that. Many ignored their calls when the world wasn't in danger. Aside from Solomon, who was bounded to his ring, only two others accepted to work for Chaldea.
Lord El-Melloi II always seemed to just fall in the bitter camp. It was a wonder that he managed to have students so willing and enthusiastic about the world, as they were such a contrast to the man and his demeanor. His inner life was critical too, but Roman wasn't wrong either. That caused a thin, weak laugh to escape Lord El-Melloi II. "Perhaps." It translated as it's already happening, in it's way, but there were more tender topics to discuss and this one was best left aside soon.
"That was her ultimate reaction?" Lord El-Melloi II asked mildly. It sounded like DaVinci to be sure, but even he had had a strong reaction just now. "I'm...well, it's not very odd for her, but it's still unusual in the long run." The longest run, perhaps.
Lord El-Melloi II was willing to bet that Roman knew what he was really after here. The first words out of his mouth were a natural snappish reaction, "I'd have a catalyst if London wasn't impossible to reach." It was a truth said with that little bit of heat that still resided in him about Chaldea and all it had torn him away from, but the anger died. "But...yes, I do expect that the use of a machine will be different. But if I'm doing the summons, then perhaps Iskandar is more likely to respond."
There. There, that was who his servant was, Roman.
lmao sorry about the iliad assumption I CAN CHANGE THAT IF YOU WANT
He takes that laughter like a 'yes', and Roman beams, but keeps everything he has to say for later. When he's openly more ready to admit he's changed, and the world's become more bearable to his cynical point of view.
"Yes, at least that's what I remember," Roman admits. He also hinted it for months, so she might have already guessed by how cagey he was in general about the First Summon and some delicate topics like the Roman Empire. "She told me she stayed-" he pauses and averts his eyes, as if just he's noticed how embarrassing Leonardo's words truly were, "Er, to help me. She said I looked like I was trying too hard and couldn't leave me alone." Like if she was his self-appointed legal guardian, that's his interpretation, at any rate.
"Yeah, I'm sorry but London this year is unavoidable," Roman apologizes, lowering his gaze, feeling the concern weight his words. It's not Chaldea's fault, but he still said that. He raises his eyes next, looking surprised not by the Servant's identity but by his admission. He finally let him know. A small smile spreads on his face. Iskandar is the Persian name of Alexander the Great. "I'm sure he'll recognize you." Although he has no idea how much El Melloi II's voice changed since his Grail War. "Oh, how about using that copy of Ihe Iliad you always borrow from the Library?"
He's kept the tabs on that and had wrongly assumed that his Servant as one of the heroes of the tales, not someone indirectly related to it.
Quietly, Lord El-Melloi II considered DaVinci's response. It's easy to understand why Roman is embarrassed by it, as it comes off as treating him as someone incapable of looking after the affairs of Chaldea, but there's a more generous way of approaching it too and that's the point that he pursues. "If she hadn't, you'd likely be suffocating under the weight of this place." He paused, eyes flicking back to the computer. "And Marie would see less of you, and then where would we be?"
No where good, that's the answer. Or as bad as London, and Lord El-Melloi II sighed heavily at Roman's apology. It was still on his mind, London. Impossible for it not to be. Just as it was impossible to not be thinking of seeing Iskandar again. Unconsciously, he fiddled with his coat, one of the symbols of fidelity he wore in Iskandar's honor.
"Yes, that might work," he said softly, a funny expression crossing his face. "The idiot stole a copy when he was first summoned to Fuyuki, you know. From the library."
Roman might have left out the context, being Da Vinci nearly leaving because of the Demi Servants experiments, but choosing to stay for his sake. And the years she invested in winning his trust. "That's..." Roman wants to complain a little, but he admitted earlier she eased his burdens. The technical help is priceless, after all. "Truth. I can't deny she's essential for Chaldea to function as well as it does." Especially when most of their tech staff traveled with Marie to London. Then he snorts when Waver mentions his beloved Mari. "If was for Leonardo, she'll forbid it. She always gets on my case about it," he grumbles as if his hobby hurt anyone.
Silence lingers. London is a hot topic for many reasons, one he'll rather avoid thinking about until they restore the timeline somehow. There are priorities to have even against the heart wishes. After the awkward moment passes, he's glad to see Waver talking about his past in such light voice.
"Oh, why couldn't you-" He makes a hand gesture. Buy him a copy? "Did you have to return it?" He's curious because Solomon has been in his best behavior. Command spells didn't work with the King of Magic, but there's no need for them when he'll obey any command. He didn't have much of agency back then, but it's always curious how unruly other Servants could be.
Had Roman revealed DaVinci's near walk out, Lord El-Melloi II would have admitted that such a move would have his full support. Hell, he nearly did the same walk out upon arrival. It was impossible to not see DaVinci's actions as clear headed and made based on morals, and that spoke to the kind of person she was. But as it was, Lord El-Melloi II could only nod in agreement. "It's...it's a reasonable corporate structure, for lack of any better words. Director, then you and DaVinci, as you both seem to make up for each other's occassional weaknesses." DaVinci's airheadedness, Roman's inability to read a room. "Maybe Leonardo's jealous?" Nah, that couldn't be. She had to have better taste in men than Roman.
The lightness doesn't remain for very long. Instead, the demeanor that takes over Lord El-Melloi II is the same sort of exhaustion he rewards his students with. His unruly pain in the ass students.
"It was late at night when I summoned him and he refused to wait," he said, and in that exhaustion, there was a note of real fondness. Love, maybe. "The oaf. I could have returned it but..."
Roman gives a small smile. Probably that's true, even though Olgamarie disliked to talk to Da Vinci and avoided her. "Professor Lev also helped, he was the only one who could truly reach out for Marie," he says, smile waning. They can't rely on Lev any longer. He's gone. "I...What?" It's a good thing he's not drinking anything, or he would have choked or spat out his drink. "No way!" Roman quickly says, making a face. The whole idea of Leonardo's jealousy is frankly absurd. In the first place, Romani has never even looked at her direction with any shred of attraction, and he's convinced that's mutual. "It's probably because she can't appreciate idols." That sounds ridiculous, but he goes with how their field of art something Da Vinci can't match even with all those talents.
Roman takes note of the many emotions coloring his answer. "I see, you wanted to keep it," he finishes it for him. He doesn't blame him, even if he's complicit of theft. "Did you ever take a picture?" he asks suddenly. Of course, it'll be back in London, but he's curious if he did keep another kind of memento. "Marisbilly took several before we... well, Solomon and he went to Fuyuki."
He still keeps some of them, but they were erased from the official record.
"Strange that she gravitated to him more." It felt as if lingering on Lev is a poor idea, if Roman's expression was anything to go by, and so Lord El-Melloi II tried to speed past that particular point. It was an easy thing to do, given the man's strong reaction, and Lord El-Melloi II only felt a little bad for making the suggestion. He hated when others did it to him, after all. "Perhaps I've misread the situation then." That counts as an apology, right? "I'll leave you to be the judge of the source of her animosity though."
Maybe she thought she was better than any idol? Who was to say.
The question about a picture was met with a tiny, bitter, regretful laugh. No, no they hadn't. "I didn't have the foresight for it," he said wearily. "I was nineteen and a selfish, demanding brat who only thought he was good at thinking long term. A photograph of myself and Iskandar?" He snorted.
"Well, it's not that strange, he's from an old magus family, and she feels he understands her more than an outsider than me," Roman explains, thinking too he was a good influence but Lev now is dead, suicide, and he has no clue how he's going to break the news to Marie when this ends. "Er, thanks. You were well-meaning," he shakes his head, making it clear he's not offended. Just weird out.
His expression falls a bit. He knows what that laughter means and it's a pity. "You'll have an opportunity to fix that here," he tells him with a nod, "Georgios, the Saint I mean, he's taken photography as a hobby."
"Mm, that might explain it," he said. It would track for a mage of Marie's family status, although he has his doubts. In his experience, the outsider angle is sometimes a greater help. Then again, his classroom was special, far moreso than any other mage in Clock Tower's. The strange and outsiders always drew closer to him and...there was selection bias, wasn't there?
For a very quiet moment, all the attitude of Lord El-Melloi II disappeared, leaving just Waver Velvet. The same bratty 19 year old that he loathed, loathed being, never wanted to see or have anything else to do with ever ever ever again. In that horrible moment, there was only one worry on his mind.
"He was the highest ranked and also a friend of her father," Roman said, with a nod. He was also a lot more reliable looking than Romani, so it was no-brainer the girl would take him seriously when he constantly 'softened the mood' as she complained about so often.
Romani could look at that, the change, the insecurity eating him, that expectation. He leans over and reaches out to squeeze his hand, just briefly, it was an awkward parental show of support. Because while he is no longer that ancient king, sometimes he can't forget the magi are in a sense his children. Solomon's. "If he doesn't, you'll try again until he does," he tells him.
No false promises of reassurance, because he knows how easy those expectations could be disappointed by a reason or another. Instead, he offers the encouragement of endurance.
you know it'd be terrible if they bonded after the Fz event
"That would do it for a person like that," Lord El-Melloi II agreed softly. He didn't like it, but from all he had heard about Marie, it seemed perfectly in character.
But there was little time to dwell on what else might have made Marie tick, because the tidal wave of insecurity (what if I'm not worthy?) had dragged him down into the undertoe. He barely registered that Roman had even reached out to reassure him, quite literally.
"There is a limit on such actions," he said softly. "One can't do the same thing forever and expect a different result."
Not without attendant heartbreak, at the very least.
fff i was thinking he summons lil' alexander first
"Is there?" Roman wonders aloud if there truly is a limit. "It's never too late, as long as you're willing to do this." That's how he exists right? Because of a wish made after Solomon has been thousands of years dead. "To wish for something is why Heroic Spirits can be summoned as Servants, as long as the King of Conquerors has a wish, he'll be able to be summoned." So there's a chance he'll answer.
He doesn't know that king, but he guesses is one of those greedy types and big dreamers to inspire Lord El Belloi II for so many years. He must have many wishes.
"I think, uh, if I'm your friend, I'm not supposed to let you give up, Lord El Melloi II," he resolves, somehow it feels important he supports him to the end. "You've got a chance to meet your Servant again, then you should take it." He knows he'll probably do the same to meet Marisbilly again. To yell at him angrily about the Demi Servants experiments and to thank him for this chance of life he had.
Obviously, the way he feels for Marisbilly isn't the same as Lord El Melloi II might feel for this king. The man was Solomon's first friend, true, but he was probably also, in a sense, Romani Archaman's father. He doesn't want to admit it, because he feels guilty about stealing this from Olgamarie. But he's been the person who taught him how to be a human being, and he simply didn't have a lot of experiences with a parental figure when King David was very hands-off with Solomon's upbringing.
Edited 2018-11-04 19:19 (UTC)
this sounds great double the hot waver mess of emotions
Roman was doing his best to be reassuring. It was a commendable action, but one that fell flat. The definition of madness was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, right? There would have to be a cut off limit, if only to ensure his own state of mind.
Who was he kidding? He'd be a wreck if he stopped and a wreck if he kept going and failing. There was a reason that Lord El-Melloi II had never broached this subject, and the thrashing current of thoughts in his head was a reminder of why.
"As a co-worker, I ask you to consider an obligation of stopping madness as well," he said after a very long moment of silence. "That is all."
He would need the limit. He knew that.
the role reversal is always amusing because he looks up waver
Roman looks stumped. It's almost as if he makes it sound like he'll go mad or something. He scratches head, unsure what to say next.
"Are you afraid you'll go mad or develop some sort of Kiyohime-level obsession?" He hopes the label would just make him smile, lessen this heavy atmosphere. "I trust you." He wouldn't have told his secret if he didn't at least think he was mentally stable and reliable.
He can't preach about having more self-confidence but really Waver needs to relax and trust himself a little more.
yup and waver's just so conflicted bc lbr he definitely has a terrible crush on iskandar
"I-It is?!" Roman sounds surprised, his eyes grow wide and he realizes he's done it again. Aw, Mash is right, his inability to read the room has landed him in a spectacular foot-mouth. He hides his face behind his hands and lets the awkward silence linger for a moment before he can face him away.
"I'm sorry, um, I didn't know," he hates how empty that apology sounds. However, he inhales deeply and buries his embarrassment. "I won't let you go to that deep end, you know," he promises him.
Roman wasn't Roman without a mistake like that. He shook his head, and then realized that he had transformed into a total sadsack sitting on Roman's sofa.
"...We can talk more about it another day."
Emotions were exhausting, more than anything else. "Has Mari revoked that ridiculous blog post yet?"
"Right. We can leave that talk after you try the summon," Roman says, poking his fingers together. "Although I warn you that, er, I don't know much of the topic."
True Solomon was married (to several hundred women, no less), but his nature didn't allow him to have the agency of choice and feeling. Which is an elephant in the room Roman refuses to deal with, it's easier to ignore or zone out potential relationships and invest in the safe world of 2D!
Speaking of a certain ritual. "When would you like to try the summon?"
Not today. Today was for processing a lot of emotions and a lot of information, probably while playing the next game that was up in the queue. (Whoever had bought a few Castlevania titles really had hid them. Probably something to do with Vlad III running around.)
He didn't cheer up much, but Lord El-Melloi II did nod in gratitude. "And uh. Thanks."
For not chiding him for having All the Emotions about his Servant.
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DaVinci was loved in her own lifetime for such reasons, wasn't she? He'd have to ask, and then pray someone like Michelangelo never got summoned. He was a grump equal to himself, by all accounts.
"....Roman if you're about to say that aliens built the pyramids then I want to live in ignorance."
The History Channel wasn't allowed to be right.
Grumping, Lord El-Melloi II withdrew the gesture. "Only because you asked. And the last thing I'll say is that if someone knows you're loyal and refuses to acknowledge it or is this controlling about conversations, I don't think it's right or fair."
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Michelangelo's not a Heroic Spirit, of all ridiculous fates, but Roman isn't aware of that yet.
"Oh no, that's more," uh, vague hand gestures. Like that cartoon, he wants to say, but the whole affair is kind of bad blood to bring up. God nearly wiped out Egypt out the map, so he heard. "Unless you mean the Aztecs."
Shut up, Roman.
Roman shoots him a pleading glance while he wraps his arms around his laptop screen. Don't do this, Lord El Melloi II, don't make a man choose between his buddy or his favorite net idol. "She's just..." He trails off, "Sometimes she doesn't like when I talk too much about someone else." He admits this. She once scolded him for being 'boring' because he couldn't shut up about praising Ritsuka.
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That was perhaps too prying, but Lord El-Melloi II couldn't help his curiosity.
"Nope!" Lord El-Melloi II declared, holding both of his hands up. "Don't tell me anything, I've decided that this is a road to insanity that I have zero desire to go down. Just...I'll live happily in ignorance on this particular topic."
Archaeology was so much saner than
bullshit Nasuversethe other options.It was the look on Roman's face that finally made him back off, and Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "Okay, okay," he said, defeated on the topic. But they were circling something else, and with all their discussion today, perhaps now was the right time to ask about it. "Roman, could I ask you something with regards to summoning Heroic Spirits here at Chaldea?"
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Roman's lips tug into a half smile, "All right, all right, no more alien talk. No goddesses from Venus or the Sun. I got it," he gives a nod, trying hard to choke his laughter.
And after he agrees, he slowly unwraps his arms from the laptop and looks embarrassed, ears growing hot. He's just latched to his computer screen to defend his net idol's 'honor'. He's caught up in this embarrassment and fighting the urge to flush in all shades of red and pink when Waver's question catches him off guard. "Huh? Oh, I, sure. What is it?"
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"First one, Roman," he clarified. "DaVinci's immune from you telling her off, that's probably a built up resistence. As sorry as I am to say that."
Roman didn't have the mom energy of Emiya or Raikou or anyone. It was more like...the uncle who tried really, really hard but you knew you could ignore him 99% of the time. Unless you were talking about bullshit aliens in which case the things said were ipossible to forget.
"It isn't funny!" he whined, and that would be the last statement on the matter. Forever. Forever.
Roman's defense of his idol wasn't something Lord El-Melloi II was about to clock as weird or even comment on. It...it was Roman being Roman, nothing else. He remained somber, and before he spoke, let out a long sigh.
"Could I try to perform a summons?"
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Tha-That's unfair. Roman pouts and folds his arms. Should he fear for his dubious authority if Da Vinci's not listening? "I think," he blinks, trying to recall what was her reaction. She didn't look very surprised or fazed about the information. "She didn't care. She didn't ask about my reasons, although I ended up talking about them. She only wondered if she could help me with anything." Leonardo's a weirdo Roman can't figure out sometimes.
Idols and aliens aside, he's finally asking something he's expected to do sooner. Do you want to see if your Servant answers your call? he wants to ask, but the question stays unsaid. "Yes, I can teach you how to operate the machine. It's not like you probably remember," he warns him. After all, the Servants aren't summoned by the Master, just by the Fate system. "If you're looking for someone specifically, it'll be easier if you could get a catalyst." The Servant can still ignore the summon, Fate system allows that. Many ignored their calls when the world wasn't in danger. Aside from Solomon, who was bounded to his ring, only two others accepted to work for Chaldea.
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"That was her ultimate reaction?" Lord El-Melloi II asked mildly. It sounded like DaVinci to be sure, but even he had had a strong reaction just now. "I'm...well, it's not very odd for her, but it's still unusual in the long run." The longest run, perhaps.
Lord El-Melloi II was willing to bet that Roman knew what he was really after here. The first words out of his mouth were a natural snappish reaction, "I'd have a catalyst if London wasn't impossible to reach." It was a truth said with that little bit of heat that still resided in him about Chaldea and all it had torn him away from, but the anger died. "But...yes, I do expect that the use of a machine will be different. But if I'm doing the summons, then perhaps Iskandar is more likely to respond."
There. There, that was who his servant was, Roman.
lmao sorry about the iliad assumption I CAN CHANGE THAT IF YOU WANT
"Yes, at least that's what I remember," Roman admits. He also hinted it for months, so she might have already guessed by how cagey he was in general about the First Summon and some delicate topics like the Roman Empire. "She told me she stayed-" he pauses and averts his eyes, as if just he's noticed how embarrassing Leonardo's words truly were, "Er, to help me. She said I looked like I was trying too hard and couldn't leave me alone." Like if she was his self-appointed legal guardian, that's his interpretation, at any rate.
"Yeah, I'm sorry but London this year is unavoidable," Roman apologizes, lowering his gaze, feeling the concern weight his words. It's not Chaldea's fault, but he still said that. He raises his eyes next, looking surprised not by the Servant's identity but by his admission. He finally let him know. A small smile spreads on his face. Iskandar is the Persian name of Alexander the Great. "I'm sure he'll recognize you." Although he has no idea how much El Melloi II's voice changed since his Grail War. "Oh, how about using that copy of Ihe Iliad you always borrow from the Library?"
He's kept the tabs on that and had wrongly assumed that his Servant as one of the heroes of the tales, not someone indirectly related to it.
NOPE IT'S PERFECT
No where good, that's the answer. Or as bad as London, and Lord El-Melloi II sighed heavily at Roman's apology. It was still on his mind, London. Impossible for it not to be. Just as it was impossible to not be thinking of seeing Iskandar again. Unconsciously, he fiddled with his coat, one of the symbols of fidelity he wore in Iskandar's honor.
"Yes, that might work," he said softly, a funny expression crossing his face. "The idiot stole a copy when he was first summoned to Fuyuki, you know. From the library."
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Silence lingers. London is a hot topic for many reasons, one he'll rather avoid thinking about until they restore the timeline somehow. There are priorities to have even against the heart wishes. After the awkward moment passes, he's glad to see Waver talking about his past in such light voice.
"Oh, why couldn't you-" He makes a hand gesture. Buy him a copy? "Did you have to return it?" He's curious because Solomon has been in his best behavior. Command spells didn't work with the King of Magic, but there's no need for them when he'll obey any command. He didn't have much of agency back then, but it's always curious how unruly other Servants could be.
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The lightness doesn't remain for very long. Instead, the demeanor that takes over Lord El-Melloi II is the same sort of exhaustion he rewards his students with. His unruly pain in the ass students.
"It was late at night when I summoned him and he refused to wait," he said, and in that exhaustion, there was a note of real fondness. Love, maybe. "The oaf. I could have returned it but..."
Yeah, no. He absolutely didn't.
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Roman takes note of the many emotions coloring his answer. "I see, you wanted to keep it," he finishes it for him. He doesn't blame him, even if he's complicit of theft. "Did you ever take a picture?" he asks suddenly. Of course, it'll be back in London, but he's curious if he did keep another kind of memento. "Marisbilly took several before we... well, Solomon and he went to Fuyuki."
He still keeps some of them, but they were erased from the official record.
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Maybe she thought she was better than any idol? Who was to say.
The question about a picture was met with a tiny, bitter, regretful laugh. No, no they hadn't. "I didn't have the foresight for it," he said wearily. "I was nineteen and a selfish, demanding brat who only thought he was good at thinking long term. A photograph of myself and Iskandar?" He snorted.
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His expression falls a bit. He knows what that laughter means and it's a pity. "You'll have an opportunity to fix that here," he tells him with a nod, "Georgios, the Saint I mean, he's taken photography as a hobby."
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For a very quiet moment, all the attitude of Lord El-Melloi II disappeared, leaving just Waver Velvet. The same bratty 19 year old that he loathed, loathed being, never wanted to see or have anything else to do with ever ever ever again. In that horrible moment, there was only one worry on his mind.
"If he responds at all."
And what would he do if Iskandar did not arrive?
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Romani could look at that, the change, the insecurity eating him, that expectation. He leans over and reaches out to squeeze his hand, just briefly, it was an awkward parental show of support. Because while he is no longer that ancient king, sometimes he can't forget the magi are in a sense his children. Solomon's. "If he doesn't, you'll try again until he does," he tells him.
No false promises of reassurance, because he knows how easy those expectations could be disappointed by a reason or another. Instead, he offers the encouragement of endurance.
you know it'd be terrible if they bonded after the Fz event
But there was little time to dwell on what else might have made Marie tick, because the tidal wave of insecurity (what if I'm not worthy?) had dragged him down into the undertoe. He barely registered that Roman had even reached out to reassure him, quite literally.
"There is a limit on such actions," he said softly. "One can't do the same thing forever and expect a different result."
Not without attendant heartbreak, at the very least.
fff i was thinking he summons lil' alexander first
He doesn't know that king, but he guesses is one of those greedy types and big dreamers to inspire Lord El Belloi II for so many years. He must have many wishes.
"I think, uh, if I'm your friend, I'm not supposed to let you give up, Lord El Melloi II," he resolves, somehow it feels important he supports him to the end. "You've got a chance to meet your Servant again, then you should take it." He knows he'll probably do the same to meet Marisbilly again. To yell at him angrily about the Demi Servants experiments and to thank him for this chance of life he had.
Obviously, the way he feels for Marisbilly isn't the same as Lord El Melloi II might feel for this king. The man was Solomon's first friend, true, but he was probably also, in a sense, Romani Archaman's father. He doesn't want to admit it, because he feels guilty about stealing this from Olgamarie. But he's been the person who taught him how to be a human being, and he simply didn't have a lot of experiences with a parental figure when King David was very hands-off with Solomon's upbringing.
this sounds great double the hot waver mess of emotions
Who was he kidding? He'd be a wreck if he stopped and a wreck if he kept going and failing. There was a reason that Lord El-Melloi II had never broached this subject, and the thrashing current of thoughts in his head was a reminder of why.
"As a co-worker, I ask you to consider an obligation of stopping madness as well," he said after a very long moment of silence. "That is all."
He would need the limit. He knew that.
the role reversal is always amusing because he looks up waver
"Are you afraid you'll go mad or develop some sort of Kiyohime-level obsession?" He hopes the label would just make him smile, lessen this heavy atmosphere. "I trust you." He wouldn't have told his secret if he didn't at least think he was mentally stable and reliable.
He can't preach about having more self-confidence but really Waver needs to relax and trust himself a little more.
yup and waver's just so conflicted bc lbr he definitely has a terrible crush on iskandar
He wasn't fucking around, and the good humor didn't stick. His face was dour, and this seemed to come from a place of real self knowledge.
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"I'm sorry, um, I didn't know," he hates how empty that apology sounds. However, he inhales deeply and buries his embarrassment. "I won't let you go to that deep end, you know," he promises him.
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Roman wasn't Roman without a mistake like that. He shook his head, and then realized that he had transformed into a total sadsack sitting on Roman's sofa.
"...We can talk more about it another day."
Emotions were exhausting, more than anything else. "Has Mari revoked that ridiculous blog post yet?"
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True Solomon was married (to several hundred women, no less), but his nature didn't allow him to have the agency of choice and feeling. Which is an elephant in the room Roman refuses to deal with, it's easier to ignore or zone out potential relationships and invest in the safe world of 2D!
Speaking of a certain ritual. "When would you like to try the summon?"
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Not today. Today was for processing a lot of emotions and a lot of information, probably while playing the next game that was up in the queue. (Whoever had bought a few Castlevania titles really had hid them. Probably something to do with Vlad III running around.)
He didn't cheer up much, but Lord El-Melloi II did nod in gratitude. "And uh. Thanks."
For not chiding him for having All the Emotions about his Servant.
should we timeskip after alexander is summoned, roman give him strong coffee and talk about aliens
aliens why did it have to be aliens. |D sounds good!
and we can move this!
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