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.
should we timeskip after alexander is summoned, roman give him strong coffee and talk about aliens
"Tomorrow," Roman echoes with a nod, "If, uh, well nothing goes wrong." They haven't gotten anything ready for next rayshifting so it's fine they can use the summon system. Even if it fails, or if Lord El Melloi II summons someone else accidentally, he doesn't see the harm in this. Chaldea needs all the help they can get.
"You're welcome, although I can't say I was very useful." How can he admonish him about having feelings? Right, the nature of Servants is transitory, but so is everything in life. He was a Servant ten years ago, so his perspective is different from most people.
aliens why did it have to be aliens. |D sounds good!
"You're more useful than you give yourself credit for."
With that, Lord El-Melloi II drew himself up to his feet, feeling the emotional exhaustion and needing a moment to steady himself. He was far more serious faced than when he entered, but well.
"Well, thanks, I guess," Romani says, smiling, but he probably doesn't believe it. There are things he knows he, or rather Solomon could do, while he can't. And this frustrates him. Trying to be a normal man isn't the most useful in these circumstances.
Yet, he wants to believe normal people can overcome the crisis and not just powerful kings.
Roman rises before him, to see him to the exit. Procedure, courtesy, concern for his friend's mental state after the emotion fluctuation today.
"See you tomorrow," he bids him farewell as the door automatically opens for Lord El Melloi II, "Make a room for coffee and sweet treats." He's going try to make pudding this time.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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
"You're welcome, although I can't say I was very useful." How can he admonish him about having feelings? Right, the nature of Servants is transitory, but so is everything in life. He was a Servant ten years ago, so his perspective is different from most people.
aliens why did it have to be aliens. |D sounds good!
With that, Lord El-Melloi II drew himself up to his feet, feeling the emotional exhaustion and needing a moment to steady himself. He was far more serious faced than when he entered, but well.
It was a productive totally-not-therapy session.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Roman."
and we can move this!
Yet, he wants to believe normal people can overcome the crisis and not just powerful kings.
Roman rises before him, to see him to the exit. Procedure, courtesy, concern for his friend's mental state after the emotion fluctuation today.
"See you tomorrow," he bids him farewell as the door automatically opens for Lord El Melloi II, "Make a room for coffee and sweet treats." He's going try to make pudding this time.
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