"I can't help it, I'm a doctor," Roman smiles sheepishly. His habit's also very distracting. Even if he also has plenty of those, he only abuses them because of the stressing circumstances.
His hands rest on his lap. "I used to be a clairvoyant," he answers him, "And my soul used to be connected with," he does a vague hand gesture. Revelation, that kind of thing. It's unsettling to him now who is a normal human being. "I didn't often have prophetic dreams, I could see things wide awake but I know those happen." Did he ever dream in life? He blinks, unable to remember. Maybe his wish is being unravelled a little, he doesn't know how or why. "In the last days, um-I also slept walk and wrote down the coordinates with a scrap of paper next to my nightstand." That also happens with prophetic dreams. But it's never happened before.
"I know, I know. Harass me about it when we're through the other side." Roman would be there and need something to do with all his free time, after all.
Carefully, Lord El-Melloi II listens to the explanation, nodding along to show that he is listening. It's sight, real Sight that the man used to have. It...but it doesn't feel like Grail Interference. It's something else.
"It's unclear what the spirits of magi can accomplish after their deaths. Perhaps this is an exercise of power on their end, and nothing on your own."
"Oh, I have permission to drive you mad with my pestering?" Romani asks, almost beaming despite his exhaustion. The fatigue always starts to creep when he's relaxing like he's doing now.
He is certain the Grail didn't do this. He'll know, in a sense, that's why he's a little unsettled.
"Do you think Professor Lev arranged this message before," he pauses, taking a long breath, "His passing?" Then it must be important. He has to see where the coordinates lead him.
Lord El-Melloi II groans. "Was that what I said Roman!? No, it was not! Maybe I'll be dead and I'll just haunt you after, have you ever thought about that as an option? I'll knock over your laptop every time Magi Mari's on the screen!"
Empty threats. But he was on a roll! A good one! Or at least he thought so, it probably was less entertaining to Roman.
"Maybe...maybe not. There's a force at work here that I don't like though, it worries me."
"Ah, but you see that only makes me want to pester you more about it," Roman laughs his fatigue away, imagining the curse wraith of El Melloi II haunting his laptop in retaliation for being forbidden to smoke.
Sadly, he's not looking too intimidating.
"Ah, should I stop?" Roman asks, feeling foolish for trying to trace the coordinates, he isn't even convinced this isn't the work of his exhausted imagination.
"We'll be in an endless feedback loop at this rate," he says bluntly, daring to name the thing for what it is. There are worse people to haunt though, and...well, he's going to absolutely haunt Reines as-is.
Regardless, it isn't as important as what Roman has revealed, so Lord El-Melloi II resolves to focus on that instead.
"No, I don't think that's right either. May I ask where it is they have pointed so far?"
"You're right, we can talk about this again in the future," Romani agrees, with the lingering warning he's not going to drop it. He may appear a fainthearted person, but he's deeply stubborn as well.
The shift to a more tense topic makes his expression falter.
"Uh, I don't know," he admits, glancing at the turned off monitors, "I was about to find out when you walked in." They are odd and familiar, but he doesn't know why.
Roman studies his expression, this is the first time he's looked so flustered over this. "Oh, sure, I don't mind," he accepts even though he'll normally wouldn't want to. The budding feelings of friendship were enough to entrust him with his truth. What is this small secret?
We'd have done the same if Leonardo had surprised him instead.
Taking a long breath, he turns on the screens of the panel once more, re-entering the coordinates. He holds his breath and waits until SHEBA fixes its lenses on CHALDEAS, and... "No results?" He tries again, just to be sure, maybe it's all a dumb dream, which relieves him, but there's something that's bothering him.
Lord El-Melloi II watches as Roman enters the coordinates onto the screen. He attempts the careful balance of leaning in and not getting in the way, managing to pull it off with a certain level of success.
Quietly he watches the screens load, and then..........nothing?
"...Is there a missing number in either of the coordinates that would lead to a result like this?"
"No, I'm sure I didn't mistype," Roman says, features hardening. "There's nothing there." Is it because time there no longer exists and can be observed or-
"Something outside the world?" he blurts out, stroking his face in concern. The other side, or is it- No, that's impossible. He wishes he could remember that location, but a lot of his perception dulled. Maybe he should try to observe it manually.
If you were trying to talk to someone in a dream, there was no giving them information this useless. Lord El-Melloi II shook his head, squinting at the screen in hopes that it would reveal all it's secrets.
"Can we get a live view of of that area? Even if it's nothing?
"There is something there," Roman affirms with a small quiver in his voice. "It's impossible, but-" But how did Lev? There's a sinking feeling in his stomach and he's scared to know what it means.
But at the same time, he has hope, foolishly, for something to help them to pinpoint the problem.
"No," Romani says a bit too quickly, but his voice is firm. Then he adds, heaving a sigh, "I need someone who would operate this equipment, and if I asked Da Vinci she'll try to stop me."
He knows he's being reckless. "Please." He doesn't want to issue this as an order, but he'll have to use any resource he got. If his suspicion is right, he doesn't think he'll be in any danger. If he's not, well at least it'll be just one loss and not two.
Lord El-Melloi II knows how grave his voice sounds. It isn't going to stop sounding like that any time soon either. "You don't get to go into this without letting me know that much, at least."
Romani puts his hands on his lap, trying to search the right words to explain and hope he's correct with his guess.
"I think it must be them, or him, who are trying to contact me," he murmurs vaguely, eyes anxiously looking at the dull colored CHALDEAS. "I, well, not me, Solomon. I told you he wasn't a normal person, right?" He should probably empathize this further. "Solomon wasn't just born to rule a country as David's successor, he was a mechanism that was meant to look after the evolution of humanity. That's a spot that can't be left empty after he passed away." So another system had to replace him. One that did not die.
Lord El-Melloi II's face scrunches up, trying to follow Roman. He...he thinks he gets it. Maybe?
"I'm...." I'm not sure I follow. And the disappointment about that fact is plain on his face. "What was recorded in Scripture as the voice of God, or something else entirely?"
Romani pauses to read his reaction. Is he being vague? Nervous? He's not sure himself. His memories are themselves extremely blurred at times.
"That is part of it," he affirms, clasping his hands together. "Solomon was born connected to the voice, so he never developed his own sense of humanity. Freedom of thought, that sort of thing." He gives a weak smile. "It's fine, though, I think it was necessary then." He has no grudge to the life Solomon led, although it is painful and bitter to remember now. "But I mean, after Solomon passed away, there was a substitute prepared. A magical formula that was meant to guide the correct human evolution aided by the seventy-two demon gods. When Solomon lived, they shared the same body. So I reckon if it's still functional, that's what is trying to reach out for me somehow."
Somehow it's found out he's alive and may have priceless information about their enemy.
"The coordinates are outside of this world, there's something there. Unmistakably, it's where the wandering throne of the King of Magic must be presently."
There's no denying that at this point, Lord El-Melloi II is so far out of his element that it's embarrassing. And yet for all of that mortification it's...it's almost nice to have no idea what's going on and to be out of his depth. It rarely happens, even in Chaldea (save for his inital adjustment period.)
"Perhaps...then maybe it's some kind of back up that Lev and or Marisbilly figured out to a certain extent too. Like a backup switch, because this would be the thing to truly get your attention?"
It's all spitballing, trying to come up with a theory in the moment. And it's a shit theory to be sure.
"But what if it's a trap instead and this is all manipulation by our opponents?"
"...Maybe, but-" Roman trails off, unsure about that theory, but it has merit. "How did they know where the throne was?" He isn't here, because it's wandering in a way, floating in that void, so has no fixed location.
He's right, he knows it could be a trap, but there's also the consequences of ignoring it.
"So far the enemy, whoever or whatever it is, hasn't displayed any scheme or intelligence." It's brutal and they are almost too late to even pick its tracks. "We have no idea what is causing this, and we have little to lose in check this out." He's at wits' end about clues and any assistance, as dangerous and suspicious it seems, is welcome.
Lord El-Melloi II can only think of age. He sighs, continuing with the thought. "What if they're as old as Solomon. Or older. So knowing about the throne isn't new, it's old information they're relying on for manipulation now. But...you're right, it is a change in MO."
It's too clever by half. Everything hasn't been clever.
"I'm not leaving the control room until you're back though."
Roman folds his arms. Maybe Lord El Melloi II's right and he's being rash. But, if he's still got the faint hope to find a solid clue that helps them solve their desperate situation before more history vanishes.
Regardless, it's different from what they seem to have faced so far.
"...Thank you, ah, I suppose I need to teach you how to operate this first," he says in sudden realization. He feels his hands tremble a little, but he doesn't want to show it. It's scary to go there alone, but he needs to do it for the sake of everyone.
"...What was that?" Roman asks, paling to think the damage that sort of person could do to Chaldea. No, that walking curse would need to be isolated from all the premises if they existed.
He suppresses a shudder at the mental image of a wreckage under this mysterious magus feet and rolls his chair to a side to welcome the new operator. "All right," he gestures at the console, "These panels control SHEBA Lenses." So it begins the long session about how to insert coordinates, how to adjust the observation to avoid the dispersion phenomena of the rayshifted person and other essential information. Most important one would be emergency rayshifting and how to perform them.
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His hands rest on his lap. "I used to be a clairvoyant," he answers him, "And my soul used to be connected with," he does a vague hand gesture. Revelation, that kind of thing. It's unsettling to him now who is a normal human being. "I didn't often have prophetic dreams, I could see things wide awake but I know those happen." Did he ever dream in life? He blinks, unable to remember. Maybe his wish is being unravelled a little, he doesn't know how or why. "In the last days, um-I also slept walk and wrote down the coordinates with a scrap of paper next to my nightstand." That also happens with prophetic dreams. But it's never happened before.
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Carefully, Lord El-Melloi II listens to the explanation, nodding along to show that he is listening. It's sight, real Sight that the man used to have. It...but it doesn't feel like Grail Interference. It's something else.
"It's unclear what the spirits of magi can accomplish after their deaths. Perhaps this is an exercise of power on their end, and nothing on your own."
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He is certain the Grail didn't do this. He'll know, in a sense, that's why he's a little unsettled.
"Do you think Professor Lev arranged this message before," he pauses, taking a long breath, "His passing?" Then it must be important. He has to see where the coordinates lead him.
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Empty threats. But he was on a roll! A good one! Or at least he thought so, it probably was less entertaining to Roman.
"Maybe...maybe not. There's a force at work here that I don't like though, it worries me."
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Sadly, he's not looking too intimidating.
"Ah, should I stop?" Roman asks, feeling foolish for trying to trace the coordinates, he isn't even convinced this isn't the work of his exhausted imagination.
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Regardless, it isn't as important as what Roman has revealed, so Lord El-Melloi II resolves to focus on that instead.
"No, I don't think that's right either. May I ask where it is they have pointed so far?"
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The shift to a more tense topic makes his expression falter.
"Uh, I don't know," he admits, glancing at the turned off monitors, "I was about to find out when you walked in." They are odd and familiar, but he doesn't know why.
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"If I asked you to continue, could I please stay and watch you find where they lead?"
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We'd have done the same if Leonardo had surprised him instead.
Taking a long breath, he turns on the screens of the panel once more, re-entering the coordinates. He holds his breath and waits until SHEBA fixes its lenses on CHALDEAS, and... "No results?" He tries again, just to be sure, maybe it's all a dumb dream, which relieves him, but there's something that's bothering him.
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Quietly he watches the screens load, and then..........nothing?
"...Is there a missing number in either of the coordinates that would lead to a result like this?"
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"Something outside the world?" he blurts out, stroking his face in concern. The other side, or is it- No, that's impossible. He wishes he could remember that location, but a lot of his perception dulled. Maybe he should try to observe it manually.
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If you were trying to talk to someone in a dream, there was no giving them information this useless. Lord El-Melloi II shook his head, squinting at the screen in hopes that it would reveal all it's secrets.
"Can we get a live view of of that area? Even if it's nothing?
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But at the same time, he has hope, foolishly, for something to help them to pinpoint the problem.
"I think I should go there."
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"I'm going with you." Lord El-Melloi II pauses, then adds with even more gravity in his voice, "And don't you dare fight me on it."
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He knows he's being reckless. "Please." He doesn't want to issue this as an order, but he'll have to use any resource he got. If his suspicion is right, he doesn't think he'll be in any danger. If he's not, well at least it'll be just one loss and not two.
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Lord El-Melloi II knows how grave his voice sounds. It isn't going to stop sounding like that any time soon either. "You don't get to go into this without letting me know that much, at least."
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Romani puts his hands on his lap, trying to search the right words to explain and hope he's correct with his guess.
"I think it must be them, or him, who are trying to contact me," he murmurs vaguely, eyes anxiously looking at the dull colored CHALDEAS. "I, well, not me, Solomon. I told you he wasn't a normal person, right?" He should probably empathize this further. "Solomon wasn't just born to rule a country as David's successor, he was a mechanism that was meant to look after the evolution of humanity. That's a spot that can't be left empty after he passed away." So another system had to replace him. One that did not die.
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"I'm...." I'm not sure I follow. And the disappointment about that fact is plain on his face. "What was recorded in Scripture as the voice of God, or something else entirely?"
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"That is part of it," he affirms, clasping his hands together. "Solomon was born connected to the voice, so he never developed his own sense of humanity. Freedom of thought, that sort of thing." He gives a weak smile. "It's fine, though, I think it was necessary then." He has no grudge to the life Solomon led, although it is painful and bitter to remember now. "But I mean, after Solomon passed away, there was a substitute prepared. A magical formula that was meant to guide the correct human evolution aided by the seventy-two demon gods. When Solomon lived, they shared the same body. So I reckon if it's still functional, that's what is trying to reach out for me somehow."
Somehow it's found out he's alive and may have priceless information about their enemy.
"The coordinates are outside of this world, there's something there. Unmistakably, it's where the wandering throne of the King of Magic must be presently."
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"Perhaps...then maybe it's some kind of back up that Lev and or Marisbilly figured out to a certain extent too. Like a backup switch, because this would be the thing to truly get your attention?"
It's all spitballing, trying to come up with a theory in the moment. And it's a shit theory to be sure.
"But what if it's a trap instead and this is all manipulation by our opponents?"
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He's right, he knows it could be a trap, but there's also the consequences of ignoring it.
"So far the enemy, whoever or whatever it is, hasn't displayed any scheme or intelligence." It's brutal and they are almost too late to even pick its tracks. "We have no idea what is causing this, and we have little to lose in check this out." He's at wits' end about clues and any assistance, as dangerous and suspicious it seems, is welcome.
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Lord El-Melloi II can only think of age. He sighs, continuing with the thought. "What if they're as old as Solomon. Or older. So knowing about the throne isn't new, it's old information they're relying on for manipulation now. But...you're right, it is a change in MO."
It's too clever by half. Everything hasn't been clever.
"I'm not leaving the control room until you're back though."
ff sorry for the delay
Regardless, it's different from what they seem to have faced so far.
"...Thank you, ah, I suppose I need to teach you how to operate this first," he says in sudden realization. He feels his hands tremble a little, but he doesn't want to show it. It's scary to go there alone, but he needs to do it for the sake of everyone.
you're totally fine!
There's a look on Lord El-Melloi II's face, a smug grin, and it means he's laughing at a very, very specific inside joke. And for him, it's hilarious.
In a moment, the rolling chair that sat so leisurely across from Roman is beside him, the chair of a junior colleague ready to learn.
"Let's begin."
let's do the training off screen because I have NO IDEA (damn Nasu not showing this)
He suppresses a shudder at the mental image of a wreckage under this mysterious magus feet and rolls his chair to a side to welcome the new operator. "All right," he gestures at the console, "These panels control SHEBA Lenses." So it begins the long session about how to insert coordinates, how to adjust the observation to avoid the dispersion phenomena of the rayshifted person and other essential information. Most important one would be emergency rayshifting and how to perform them.
sounds good nerdy version of eye of the tiger plays in the bg
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SORRY FOR THE DELAY, HOLIDAYS MADNESS
You're good also LOOK SOLOMON DIDN'T RUIN NA CHRISTMAS!
CONGRATS ON THE ANIME BTW! /POMS POMS/
thank you i want to thank fgo dollars for giving me Flat fucking up a porsche and soccer mom waver
lmao fgo dollars are the best dollars, btw I'm on a trip for a week at least
they fund soccer mom waver. also ok gotcha
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sorry lifeeeee got hard
don't ever worry i know you will always return!