It's For Your Own Good

[thechurbyboxmod]

Blind Date Meme



Let's face it, sometimes it's difficult finding someone to share your time, and your heart (or maybe just your body), with. Luckily for you, you have well meaning friends. Unfortunately for you, you have well meaning friends who didn't tell you this was coming. That's right. They have taken it upon themselves (and no doubt friends of friends or family members or someone else who clearly doesn't know you) to arrange a date. Without telling you.

That's right. The dreaded blind date. Which means now you've got to get through at least a reasonable amount of time with a total stranger (or maybe not a stranger if you're particularly, well, we can't say if it's lucky or not) before you can reasonably escape. Maybe it will go well. Maybe this will be the start of the rest of your lives. Maybe you'll get laid. Maybe you'll have a horror story for the ages.

No matter what plays out, though, you're here. Might as well see just how your luck is going to play out.

How to Play

1. Post your character and canon below along with any preferences. Then go back and edit your comment with the next number in order (i.e. first TL is 1, second is 2, etc)

2. Tag other TLs. If a character isn't in normal preferences, ask if they might want a date that goes poorly instead!

3. Optionally, get yourself a truly blind experience by going here and randomly generating a number. Then find the matching TL (numbered back in step one) and enjoy your blind date.

4. For more fun, use the list in the first comment for randomized date locations!

Comments

So sorry for the wait, my health is the worst this year.

[ask_whydunit]

Lord El-Melloi II’s private life (or lack thereof) was often the talk of those around the Clock Tower. Fellow teachers, students and assorted members of staff tended to fixate on it to an inane degree, in his opinion. It was borderline insufferable to deal with turning people down and ignoring the rumors about him going around. They weren’t important. He didn’t have time for a social life and he wasn’t a challenging curiosity to be won over by the few that decided to try.

He was, however, surrounded by chaotic meddlers who meant well and an adoptive sibling who found the idea amusing and so decided it was their business. That’s not to say he’d agreed to this rendezvous without some fight, but more than a few inappropriate comments from his sister and a gentle explanation from his apprentice that the other’s had already put everything together had him buckle if only to get everyone off his back.

Seeing no one at the table once he arrived at the barcade, he sat down and waited, only to find himself being approached by a man who’d just finished with a pinball machine. It takes every fiber of Waver’s being to not go into his usual ‘let them down both clearly and swiftly’ mode, and instead he folds his arms and gives the man an appraising look as he tries to remember he promised to give this a proper shot.

"Evening." He started at least remembering his manners that much.

no worries, please take as much time as you need and feel better!

[orangewayfinder]

Terra visually appraised the man now sitting at the table as he approached. The man was definitely handsome and of course that had him worry. Looks never affected him even as Phil thought that meant Terra thought of himself as too good to notice the swooning girls and boys alike at the games. It wasn't that, he was there to test his own skill, not to date anyone.

Phil was just being himself he'd supposed.

But once the man spoke, Terra inwardly froze even as he tried a smile. "Good evening, my name is Terra and I'm supposed to meet you here tonight for a date."

For a moment he pondered that he might have the wrong person but he and Aqua had been assured that no one else but appointed dates were allowed to sit at the appointed tables.

Thank you <3 I'm taking it a day at a time and doing things as I can.

[ask_whydunit]

There is a slight arch of his brow, trying to decide what he thought of the greeting. Either the man was nervous or wasn’t sure if he was talking to the right person. While the tables were reserved, Waver didn’t doubt the wrong person sat in them from time to time if they didn’t know that… And the mage really needed to turn his brain off for a bit and stop reading too much into every little thing about a person or interaction.

This wasn’t a complicated mystic code to reverse engineer or one of his case’s needing to be solved. It was a blind date.

Gods, he thinks standing in front of Faker’s Hecatic Wheel again would be easier than this… His apprentice would be frowning at him for thinking that, but it was mostly true! Sad that he was so ill-prepared for something as simple as a date, but mostly true.

Clearing his throat a little and trying to not sound awkward about the reminder that this was a date and he was out of his depth in a way he wasn’t even accustomed to. “Ah… Yes. That would be why I’m here.” He offers a hand in greeting, taking a moment to ponder over an introduction. For the sake of not having to listen to someone stumble over is very annoying title, he makes the decision to use his actual name instead. If he had had to explain that later… he would. If there was a later, he reminded himself. “Waver Velvet, it’s nice to meet you.”

Fair enough!!

[orangewayfinder]

For his part, Aqua had 'showed him the ropes' since she was dating some guy she'd met at the Games while searching for him. So she had shared her experiences and had embarrassingly even had her date give him a tip or five. All that he personally knew about dating was what he'd seen at the Games in Greece although that was more further along than just grabbing a drink or casually meeting someone or having dinner or something like that.

Surprised but in a delighted sort of way, Terra took the offered hand and shook it a moment before letting go. "It's nice to meet you Waver." He half thought to say Mister Velvet which automatically came to mind. But he recalled Aqua chiding him when he practiced with her and her guy friend, telling him that was far too formal and to go with whatever first name he got.

[ask_whydunit]

Waver did not have any pointers for this, though not for lack of people to ask. He was the odd one out among his peers, practically a confirmed bachelor as the saying went (hence the recent intervention that landed him here). Any number of colleagues or acquaintances (friends, Waver), could probably have given him some pointers for tonight… But Waver Velvet found subjects like this too awkward to talk about in the first place, even when someone was right there and prime for asking.

But now he sat here, feeling very out of his depth but determined.

And had an instant realization of the mistake he’d made in using his name. He wasn’t used to hearing it from anyone aside from Melvin, so hearing it from a very nice man (handsome, if Waver was being honest) threw him off balance a little.

How does one tell? His ears turn slightly red with a blush that didn’t make it to his face.

“You too.” He started and absently realized he already said it was nice to meet the man. Ah, fantastic. Moving on… “Ah, well, have a seat. Did you want a drink?” He added, hiding the clumsy thoughts well enough behind a professional façade he wore around the Tower.

If it came up, it would be an interesting connection that they had both been to Greece. When Waver was younger and travelling, he’d been a tutor for the sons of a mage working as an archaeologist at a site there. It was one of his fonder memories, one that had inspired his current career.

[orangewayfinder]

Terra had been quietly studying his date or whatever this was called. He could only imagine the ribbing Aqua or her boyfriend or whatever would be telling him to say or do. But those thoughts silently danced through his mind before noticing Waver looked a little uncomfortable.

Was this whole thing wrong somehow? Terra quickly reasoned with himself that the other was in fact here and hadn't run away, so they should be on the right track, or at least so he hoped. But then Waver spoke. Taking a seat at the other's request, he nodded. "A drink would be great."

That at least would give them both something to do. And of course he mentally made a note that he'd brought plenty of munny to ensure that he would pay for the both of them. Aqua had been adamant that he did that. So accepting the drink was fine, but he had the mind that he would pay for this entire thing which was more than completely fine.

Trying to make conversation he looked at Waver. "What do you normally drink?"

[ask_whydunit]

Waver was generally used to being studied and scrutinized between the nature of his position at the Clock Tower and the fact that he tended to attract people who found him to be a puzzle to solve or manipulate to get what they wanted. Many had tried, few succeeded beyond his sister, truth be told. That said, being studied by his blind-date, left him trying to figure out what the other thought.

It wasn’t that the whole thing was wrong; it was just outside Waver’s realm of experience. He wasn’t… a social person. More often focused on his work, the responsibilities he had accepted to make up for past messes made, and his students that were pure chaos on the best of days.

Once Terra got to know him a little better tonight, perhaps he might relax a bit as he had with a few people closest to him. Though a ‘loosened up’ Waver tended towards hot and cold moods. Calm and collected to easily riled up in about five seconds flat if you knew how, and he wasn’t doing his darndest to keep the ‘calm and collected’ lord of the clock tower persona in place like a set of armor.

The fact that he had… well, taken on the entire El-Melloi family debt on top of his own definitely meant he wasn’t as well off as someone in his position would be expected to be. But it would not reflect well for him to show that in most situations, and he was frugal out of habit even before that. So he had his own money that he could use on a night like this, which meant there might be a little fumble over who paid the bill.

“Great.” He offered back and let Terra get situated at the table. Mentally going over how dates were supposed to go, and this… seemed about right, yeah? Yeah…

Waver wasn’t the biggest drinker, so if he was going to drink, he tended to be particular about what. At home, he kept a fruit brandy from a specific place he visited during his travels, and generally drank that on special occasions. He also enjoyed certain red wines. But when he was in a bar in the company of someone, he permitted himself one drink. Two at most. “I’ll probably get a scotch, what would you like?” He asked, pushing to his feet to go over to the counter and retrieve said drinks.

Reines would admonish (tease) him if he failed to be a proper gentleman after setting all this up.

[orangewayfinder]

Terra didn't drink, but he figured since Waver mentioned a scotch, that had him looking over at the drink menu. So he ordered the first thing he saw. "A rum and coke if that's okay." He had no idea what that tasted like or how it was going to go down. But he couldn't look like a little kid and order something else. So he looked up at his date with a small smile, hoping against hope that it wasn't a bad choice.

He knew that he had to relax, but this really was nerve wracking and he wasn't sure what to do other than to 'hang out and get to know someone and have a good time' which was what Aqua told him. This was his first real date too and he wasn't sure what the expectations or customs were. And while it was true that he never worried about that before, this was important. Terra felt that he had to get this right although he didn't know the rules or anything because there were rules, right?

And he kept his mind on munny because he had to pay Waver back for the drink. Not that he didn't have plenty but it was important to mind his manners. His mind kept going over the fact that the other had long hair that he wanted to put his fingers through although he knew he couldn't do that. The man was attractive though and Terra berated himself for paying attention to that because he wasn't supposed to, right?

[ask_whydunit]

Waver notes that it didn’t take Terra long to order, which was curious since he had to look at the menu… Absently he notes that’s something he used to do when trying to get used to ordering drinks in the first place. Pick the first thing off the list, and move on. Then again, Waver mused, if Terra didn’t drink at all, he would have said so, surely. So perhaps he was reading too much into this, and he wasn’t about to rudely embarrass the other with the question… So he offered a quick, affirmative nod. “Right, I’ll be back with that in a minute.” He offered before turning with a light swish of his hair and disappeared over to the bar counter.

The fact that his hair might be a point of interest was not something Waver ever really considered himself, it was a small nightmare to manage on a good morning and sometimes took assistance to get it into the silky smooth, presentable order that it was in now. The only reason he’d kept it this long was for the practical reason of hair naturally storing mana and being good for a trick in a pinch when he was on a case, and Waver being as lacking in power as he was needed most of the help he could get. So there would be some befuddlement on his face if it ever became a point brought up.

Waver could not tell Terra if he was or wasn’t supposed to be paying attention to someone’s appearance, considering he knew about as much as the other man did on the subject of dating. He could recite things he’d read on the subject of beauty and attraction from an objective standpoint, but actually considering it on a personal level tended to get awkward for him. That said, Terra was not the only one noting certain things about their date. It was hard for Waver to not absently note (admire) how toned the other’s arms were, but if asked point blank, he’d probably blush and say he hadn’t noticed a darn thing, dammit.

It’s not long before the professor is returning to the table, setting Terra’s drink down in front of him first before getting back to his seat. “There we are.” He ended, setting his own drink down in front of him to sip at later. So they had introductions, a table, drinks… uh… What do you do now? Waver glanced around at the Barcade and tried to think of what to say. Small talk, presumably, to get to know your date was where you started… right? “I hadn’t realized this place was here. Do you come often for the games?” That was a normal question, surely.

Plus, as someone who was… an avid partaker of video games, it would be nice to know if they shared an interest.

[orangewayfinder]

Terra nodded as Waver left, noting again the other's hair. It was weird. The man had just left and he knew the other was returning but a part of him felt like a child because he didn't want Waver to leave even though he had to in order to come back with the drinks. So he sat there staring at the table before reaching over for the drink menu again in order to give himself something to do while the other man was so busy.

He tried to sit and figure this all out. He still wasn't sure how to act or deal with any of this, but he hoped that he would just sort of figure it out as he went along. He knew his gummi phone was in his pocket, but Terra didn't want to call Aqua and all of that. Besides, it might look like he had someone on the 'side' as her boyfriend had put it. Maybe this was just to discourage him from calling, but it worked regardless.

What were they supposed to be talking about? Should he mention the hair thing? But then he almost immediately felt heat at his face. No, he wasn't going to bring it up because it would be awkward, as if he already didn't feel that way about this whole thing.

When Waver came back with the drink set before him, Terra smiled. "Thank you." Master Eraqus had drilled manners into them with a fierceness as kids. He only took a sip of his drink after the other had because he thought that might be polite too. Setting it down on a napkin at the table, he shook his head. "No, I just heard of the place but if you're talking about games here, I was learning about the pinball machine game. It reminds me of something like that back home."

Surely Waver wasn't referring to the Games held in Greece.

[ask_whydunit]

The thanks get a small dip of his head to acknowledge it. “You’re welcome.” It seemed only right to get his date something to drink, or at least treating them seemed to be the right way to go about a date, as far as he knew. “If you’d like something else, let me know.” He added, a little unsure if he should offer a meal or something… But maybe it was best to wait and see how things progressed from here, a drink and a little conversation to get to know the other a little better.

The Games held in Greece were definitely not what Waver was referring to, mostly because he didn’t know Terra had been there in the first place. “So we’re both new to the bar, then.” He responded, offering an awkward smile.

People kept telling him he should be less serious, try smiling more (he did smile though! It was just a rare thing. Like shooting stars and rainbows.)… It felt weird? Did it look weird? He sure as hell hoped not.

Trying to focus less on if the smile looked weird, he focused on the comment instead. The pinball machines, huh? He glanced in their direction curiously. They weren’t usually his go to, but they were something of a classic in arcades. Then again, he was curious at the other part of what Terra said. “Something from home? So, you’re not from the city.” Waver wasn’t either. Technically, he’d grown up outside the city before moving to attend the tower when he was younger and staying permanently after his travels. It just seemed a bit curious to wonder if he’d been set up on a blind date with someone who was only around temporarily, if he wasn’t permanently living here as well. Seemed important to find that out now, he decided. Plus it was was natural to be curious about your date in general, right? One was supposed to get to know them. “Where are you from?”

[orangewayfinder]

Terra smiled at the dip of the other's head. He himself was hungry and had it drilled in his head that a date meant food, but he wasn't sure what Waver was planning on. Maybe the man had to go even though he offered 'something else'. However, he wasn't eating if the other wasn't and at the same time he had been told repeatedly that he was paying. So he sat there and nodded almost in a relieved sort of way.

"Ya sorry, I don't tend to go out too much lately."

There were plenty of reasons for that but he didn't say what they were. However, he did notice that awkward smile. Wow, that was nice. But it made him smile too and he was more than sure his face was turning red for no reason and got a breather when the other looked away. But the question he had to answer.

"No, I'm not from the city. I'm from another city originally, but we just moved here so I'm trying to learn it. But what about you?"

[ask_whydunit]

(ooc: Boys pls, they are so bad at this I love it.)

Waver had indeed offered ‘something else,’ if Terra desired it. He meant it too, but he wasn’t going to try to push the other to make a decision, in case he wasn’t interested. It seemed… safer that way? Or at least more polite, he thought. Better than assuming that Terra would want to go through with an entire date, or just drinks if he decided this wasn’t going to work for him. The mage would, of course, eat if the other decided to, but Waver’s diet tended towards being rather lacking and small meals over large ones these days due to his stomach often giving him trouble.

“Hm? No need to apologize.” He offered quickly with a small rise of his brow, given it seemed entirely unnecessary to the professor. “I’m not exactly known for going out much myself. There are plenty of things to keep one busy and unfamiliar with local bars.” He added, tone a bit final on the idea that one needed to apologize here. After all, the furthest he tended to go when he wasn’t at the Clock Tower to teach was a small café that wasn’t far from his flat.

And since it sounded like Terra was new to the city itself, it was entirely reasonable that he didn’t know places like this yet. Though it did beg the question of if the man frequented them where he came from. A question for another time, perhaps. “Ah, then welcome. I hope you find the city agreeable.” He offered politely before tilting his head slightly to consider the question. His background was not something he talked about a lot anymore. Being who he was did not really mesh with the expectations of the reputation of a Lord of the Clock Tower, and best kept to himself. Some people still did their digging, of course, and use such information to try to get under his skin.

This was not like that, though, and as far as he knew, Reines would have cleared the concerns on that front before now. “I’m originally from a smaller town outside the city and moved here to study at the Clock Tower when I was a teen. Never really left, aside from some travelling.” Probably not the whole truth, but that was even more complicated… “I run one of the departments and teach there now.”

[orangewayfinder]

Terra had been raised to be polite so that was a game he could understand. He knew about being proper, having manners and all of that. However, his stomach was getting to the point that it was about to make itself known. He had a hearty appetite, with it being burned off with all of the running around that he usually did. And training was something he took seriously too, especially if he learned something new like the Break time skill. Sure it wasn't nearly as fancy as say Aqua or Ven's version, but it definitely helped to keep him in shape.

Nodding when he heard that he didn't need to apologize, he still felt as if he should know more about this place. But he'd been swamped with work and that didnt allow him to really get out as of yet. If Heartless or Unversed showed up then he'd be way more busy than he already was. And then he learned this man was a teacher, like himself and that perked him up a little.

"You teach? What sort of things?"

As soon as those words got out, his stomach growled pretty loudly.

"Thanks."

He knew all too well about keeping busy and work really did consume a lot of time other than training himself and mundane things such as eating or resting. Aqua kicked him out of the kitchen at every opportunity so there wasn't room to improve that really.

Waver's politeness and welcoming him to this strange city was really heartwarming even if he still felt like his knowledge of it should exceed what it currently was. "I hope to be able to get out to learn more about it soon." And he felt kind of shy about that for some reason.

The reply hit his ears and Master Yen Sid's tower came to mind. It wasn't a clock tower, but he was familiar with what a tower looked like.

[ask_whydunit]

Nodding to the question, he decided he was comfortable pursuing the subject of his job teaching, at least. Jobs were a safe, normal topic, right? “Modern Ma-“ He started and then stopped mid sentence as the loud stomach growl from Terra registered and the mage raised a brow at the man across the table.

A second or two ticked by quietly as his mind raced as it tried to work out if Terra had indicated being hungry before. Should he have assumed that he was and ordered food when he got drinks?? Well - says a voice that sounds suspiciously like Reines in his head - Dates usually involve food. A meal is generally anticipated. But he also DID say Terra should let him know if he wanted something else, and he didn’t… did he? No, no, he hadn’t!

The small back-and-forth argument with himself took no more than that quiet second or two before he pushed up from his seat swiftly. “You should have told me you were hungry. I meant it when I said to tell me if you wanted anything else.” He says, tone a touch stern (grumpy) and awkward.

Let it be known: He’s not upset with Terra (well he is a little that he didn’t ask for food when more than drinks were offered!) so much as with himself for not being better at this and doing the sensible thing that seemed obvious now and getting something right off the bat.

So, feeling a little ruffled and out of his element, he was going to put a pause on the question and the conversation until this was sorted, clearly! “What do you like, and is there anything you’re allergic to?” He says, gesturing firmly to the little table menu. These are the important questions, of course!

[orangewayfinder]

Terra heard the word modern, but the rest just kind of flew over his head after Waver said that because his hand went to his stomach as if that would somehow pipe it down. 'Sorry."

Blue eyes then looked up almost in an alarmed manner as the other spoke and he shook his head. "I wasn't sure if you were hungry and I'm not the type to eat in front of someone else without offering." Master Eraqus had been very adamant on manners after all. So he'd kept it inside for as long as he could because he wasn't sure what the right move was.

If only he could call Aqua.

Looking at the mage now, he shook his head. "I was going to pay for the food. I mean..it's only proper right? You already paid for the drinks, so it's only fair that I get the food."

Hopefully he was correct here although he sure was in over his head and had no real idea what the story was or how it was supposed to go. He'd come here more than prepared to pay for everything and even that seemed to be wrong?

[ask_whydunit]

The apology combined with that rather alarmed look in his very blue eyes gives Waver pause… Well, shit. He didn’t mean to do that! And the mage felt bad now…! Really doing great at this whole dating thing, aren’t you? he thinks somewhat self-deprecatingly. His ears were a bit red again with embarrassment that his professional, polite demeanor had lost to his more reactive, emotional side again… and he awkwardly huffs in an attempt to not continue to look like the prickly, socially inept idiot that he can be sometimes (and probably failing at the moment). “It’s fine, just speak up next time.”

The explanation instead gets a quiet contemplation, his expression unchanging from its awkward and a bit sharp tone while he does… He can at least understand what the man is telling him, but he still would rather Terra have spoken up. “I meant it when I offered to get something if you wanted anything else,” He responded, sighing as his shoulder’s settled just a touch. Continuing, he rubbed the side of his head awkwardly. “I could probably use something to eat anyway,” Not entirely a lie, something small won’t hurt. He doesn’t eat as much as he probably should sometimes, as it stands for various reasons. But the point is: Terra should eat if he was hungry, and this was Waver’s way of seeing to it in hopes of not failing the date spectacularly. The way the man was built indicated to Waver that he probably had a higher caloric need throughout the day than someone like himself.

“And if you want to pay part of the tab off at the end of the night, that’s fine…” Because it sounded important to Terra and it was a reasonable enough request he supposed… “But I’m already up so you might as well tell me what you’d like.” He ended, waiting for Terra to either agree or challenge him on it since Waver was used to being challenged. Some might point out that he seemed to gravitate towards challenging people despite his complaints.

The fact that Terra wasn’t excusing himself from this whole night was honestly a pretty big shock already, if the mage was being honest.

[orangewayfinder]

He wasn't sure what the look on the mage's face was all about, but he withheld another apology as his first one seemed to make the other feel some sort of way that he wasn't sure was positive. But he tried a smile. "I'll be sure to." Hopefully if he spoke up next time that it would make things easier. He wanted to help here and maybe that would be enough in order to do so.

Terra noted the shoulders thing and the sharp tone. That meant that a second date was out then, right? THE guy almost sounded exasperated with him and he wasn't sure what to do until Waver mentioned eating. "I can get it." This wasn't a challenge so much as Terra expected to have to work and do things and pay for things and not just sit back and let someone do all of the work or just totally pay for him.

Waver then mentioned paying for part of the tab at the end of the night and he nodded. He intended to at least pay half of it if not more. So he looked down at the menu and nodded. "I'll take the bacon cheeseburger, fried cheese sticks and chocolate milkshake." That he would start with and just get more later if he was still hungry. Of course he'd get the mage anything that he wanted to. But he was just trying to play it careful here and not cause the other any more distress.

That was never on his agenda.

[ask_whydunit]

That was enough for him, as long as Terra remembered to do so. If not, the man would complain and remind him of that. “Good.” He responded, expression finally softening a touch as he accepted the assurance.

Waver would be surprised to hear that Terra was thinking about a second date at all, considering how poorly the mage’s performance had been so far. That said, if there wasn’t a chance? Waver wouldn’t still be standing there trying to actually go through with the first date. He was very well known for turning people down and keeping interested people at a distance, so much so that his bachelor status and other related things were often a subject of interest. He could make an excuse to those who had set up the blind date on his end that it hadn’t been working and they decided to end the night. For reasons the mage couldn’t really explain to himself, he was invested in at least not ending the night in a total disaster.

A date with Waver Velvet was like playing hard mode on a video game.

The reply that Terra could get it is met with a roll of his green eyes and a small sigh. Like he both expected Terra to say that and that he couldn’t believe he actually did, how he rolled two contradicting energies into one reaction was unsurprising. He’s silent long enough for Terra to decide what he wanted and share that information, though, before finally speaking his mind again. “And I said I’m already up, so sit there and I’ll be back.” He responded with a stubborn tone, hair swishing around his waist as he turned quickly to head back to the counter. “Besides. I know what you want now, and you don’t know what I want. So it makes more sense.” He added over his shoulder as he departed, with maybe a tiny bit of satisfaction under the stubborn bluster.

Terra is left alone at the table to watch him go again, and when the man returned, it was balancing two trays. One with Terra’s order and one with his own. Waver’s own meal choice was a small BLT sandwich with a side of fries. Close enough to his usual preference when he was out and it shouldn’t be too much for him. Setting both down, he seemed to have pieced together a semblance of calm to mask the awkwardness for the time being. Who knew how long that was going to last, though?

“There we are, now um… What were we talking about?” His brow furrowed once he took a seat, trying to remember what they were talking about before the whole… food thing. Trying very stubbornly to get past the awkward, to act normal and not like a disaster… “Right, you asked what I taught. I’m the head of the Modern Magecraft Theories department, so I teach the fundamentals and how to explore new innovations for various kinds of magecraft in the modern day.”

[orangewayfinder]

Terra was unsure he did the right thing, but then the mage seemed pretty okay..he hoped. Maybe dates were always this awkward. He had no experience to go on here and could only hope that he was doing and saying all the right things. If this was how it always was though, he'd just toss it up to that and leave it where it was. Secretly though he wondered what was going on in the other's head. And that of course was a thing that he couldn't do, to just come right out and ask.

But then there was the part where the mage almost seemed annoyed with his reply. Was that wrong to want to pay for things? True, Waver had an absolute point that he couldn't debate, but then again the other hadn't been forthcoming with what he wanted to order either. So he could only nod mutely, wondering again if he was in the wrong here somehow. Terra of course noted that stubborn tone and he could get stubborn at times too if one would ask Ven or Aqua. But this was a completely different situation, setting and person.

When Waver came back, he nodded a little hopefully (maybe too much) at the meal. It looked good and he was determined to enjoy it even if he still was confused deep down. He wasn't going to bring any of it up though, he'd just simply have to wait to talk to Aqua. Maybe yet again he'd failed to learn something.

"Thank you." he replied as the other sat down. Terra had half an inkling to stand every time Waver sat but he kept himself seated.

Half of what the mage explained went right over his head, but it still brought Aqua to mind since she was more of a mage. He tried a smile after swallowing the bite of the delicious burger and wiped his mouth politely.

"Do you have a big class?"

[ask_whydunit]

Welcome to the vast club of people who often wondered what the hell was going on in Waver Velvet’s head, Terra! At any given moment, it could be rather a lot, unfortunately. Not all of it pertaining to the current moment, if there were other things he was dealing with. There were dozens of trains racing along… Perhaps a bit too quickly in an attempt to keep on even footing when dealing with other mages, if not outpace them, to avoid potential disaster. Some people got rather good at reading him, of course. His Apprentice for example, would probably offer some gentle encouragement that Terra was fine and that ‘Sir is just kind of a mess most of the time, but he’s trying really hard!’ Because it could not be denied that her mentor was an utter mess of a human being, but he tried really hard with most things he did.

Alas, for Terra, she was not present. And if Terra happened to get stubborn in turn, well… It would be interesting, and certainly get Waver’s attention. Be brave, good sir. He’s a reactive and sometimes difficult man, but there is a softer layer under all that.

And since Waver felt… somewhat victorious (finally!) for successfully retrieving the meal even if Terra would pay part later, he seemed to have calmed down from his grumpy attitude a considerable amount again. So very changeable, so quick to get ruffled and just as quick to cool down. “You’re welcome. Please enjoy it.” He said, taking a bite of his own sandwich while he waited for Terra to respond to the explanation.

It gets a small shrug at first as he finished his bite. Modern Magecraft Theories was largely considered the joke of the Clock Tower, given it often went against most traditional teachings by its very definition. The class meant the world to him, though, even if he wasn’t quite so open with his feelings on that. “Its definitely grown since I started. The main class is about 30 students now and I host open lectures a couple times a month that anyone can sit in on.” Mostly mages from new families, and students who had nowhere else to go for one reason or another.

[orangewayfinder]

Oh Terra was definitely enjoying his burger. He'd even raided some of his fries and he could feel his belly being happy to at getting fed. Sure he'd had lunch and all of that, but Aqua had been stern that he shouldn't eat before meeting up with his date, saying it was rude and bad manners. So he went without eating although he had thought of grabbing a snack on the way. However, he hadn't followed through with it.


So he nodded politely and gratefully to the mage, because he'd been so hungry. There was a lesson to be learned here for certain and he was definitely learning that he shouldn't go so long without eating, considering that he had a rigorous workout before taking a shower and heading out the door.


Terra took in Waver's mood change and wondered at it. Had the mage been hungry too and this was helping him as well? It was a good question in his mind but he didn't want to ask that because he'd be rude. And that wasn't something that Terra was unless the situation called for it. This was a date, and was to be relaxed and all of that. Or so Aqua had said.


And speaking of. "You guys seem to be pretty exclusive right? I mean, you guys don't accept fellow mages or anything right? And your magic must be powerful enough to keep yourselves safe?"

[ask_whydunit]

The question gets a slight pause and a thoughtful hum. “Technically, anyone who meets the requirements is able to enroll at the Clock Tower.” He did, after all. In his rather foolish youth, he’d squeaked by with just enough potential and ability to count as a mage on paper. But barely. “And there are other ways to gain entry. I can sponsor students and write recommendations given my position. And any mage is allowed to bring in someone apprenticed to them, thus allowing them to gain entry regardless of their background. The apprentice in question may even be offered a full enrollment as well if they show promise.”

Picking up his sandwich again, there’s a frown creeping back onto his face. The honesty is slipping through now, and it’s an honesty that gets him in trouble sometimes. “That said, the Tower doesn’t make it easy to stay if you aren’t seen as someone who belongs there. Students that don’t fit the mould have to build up a thick skin and be dedicated to pushing forward in their studies despite the challenges.” Spoken as someone who did not come from the right family… His position and situation were really rather strange to anyone who knew. “You’d be surprised how many mages with potential have ended up out the door because the Tower is too damn stupid and narrowminded to see it.” He stops short of calling it a den of poisonous snakes, even if that’s what it was like sometimes.

But talk like this meant Waver was not popular among some of his colleagues. The students, though? They’d turn the Clock Tower on its head if he asked them to, even if he was a bit pathetic and lacking in magical abilities by comparison to them. He was a good teacher and a more… accepting one. Forward thinking and not hung up on traditions. “There have been students who only ended up in Modern Magecraft Theories because the other departments wouldn’t or couldn’t have them there.” Everyone else’s loss, really.

The other half of the question is one that gets a raised eyebrow. “The Clock Tower’s security itself. It is rather impressive, I admit, but off school grounds? While powerful mages are definitely capable of protecting themselves, if they don’t have an ounce of common sense or get careless, it’s not hard to take them down. So I would say that largely depends on the mage.” Most of the mages that targeted him had more power in one pinky finger than he did in total.

[orangewayfinder]

A few more bites of his burger as Waver went on about requirements. He'd bet Aqua could master them all blindfolded. But he said nothing and continued to eat as politely as he could and had been instructed by Aqua. It didn't sound too hard, or at least it didn't sound too hard for her. Terra would have to run it by her later on tonight. Not that he was sure she would even want something like that, but it might be good to test her mage skills.

When Waver mentioned that last bit though, he stopped. Aqua might not be seen as someone who could belong? Her keyblade skills had earned her the title of Master which was no easy feat. Would that somehow disqualify her? It was another piece of information to give her though because Terra didn't want her walking into something that she might really want to do, only to be shown the door as the mage was saying.

Finishing his burger, Terra wiped his mouth and looked at the mage. "I was thinking of sending my friend Aqua. She's way better at magic than I am, but I don't want to send her if you think she'd just be wasting her time if they don't want her."

He then shook his head. "She'd be looking out for the others and the clock tower itself instead of herself."

[ask_whydunit]

Waver listened as Terra described his friend, taking a small bite of his sandwich in the meantime and using the space between to consider the idea. “Having not met her myself, I can’t say with any certainty if she would be or not.” Aqua’s abilities and potential were an unknown factor... But given his own lacking abilities, he wouldn’t be surprised if Aqua had more potential than he himself even had and so would easily qualify. It was more the frustrations of navigating the politics and difficult people within the clock tower that was the challenge at times. If she worked hard and stuck it out, there was no telling how far she might go.

And the professor hated wasted potential more than anything. It irks him when people who have it don’t get the chance to grow. “It’s not an easy path, but if she has the capabilities that you say and if she has both the desire and will to put forth the effort in spite of potential obstacles, I wouldn’t say it’s a waste.” It was just a particularly challenging place for more reasons that it should be.

Considering the next comment, he brushes a wayward strand of hair aside and puts his meal on hold in favor of the matter of someone’s education. “If she did decide she wanted to know more, I could give you some materials for her to look over. And as I said, I do hold a few open lectures a month that anyone can sit in on to get a better feel for what a class is like.” It was usually full of potential students from newer mage families, and a few of his regular students that liked to sit in regardless and sometimes offer unhelpful interruptions… but that in itself was important, given the chaos that tended to plague his department.

“If she had a specific interest in a kind of magecraft that she wanted to pursue, she could inquire further with the department of her interest at that point.” Waver’s department was a bit of a catch-all that studied many forms of magic but with the intent to focus on new innovations and ways to adapt it to the modern world. He, on the other hand, had been enrolled with the Spiritual Evocations department when he was a student, and his predecessor was alive.