♔ 005; [video]

[velveteenmage]

[Waver's memories were, in general, not very pleasant ones. It was fortunate the network picked up what it did today; he knew very well that much, much worse could have possibly been broadcast. (Caster came to mind, for an unfortunate example.)]

"Fate/Zero - Iskandar's pep talk to Waver" (Watch on YouTube)

[ooc: cut for video, transcript here]

Comments

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

I live in a Clan, so...I'm always surrounded by the ones close to me. Or, I was. Being so separated from them is...odd.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

...What're they like?

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

...My Clanmates? They're...all very different... I don't know where to start.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

You don't have to go on about them if it'd be troublesome. But I'd like to hear it, if you've got the patience.

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

...My Clan's very big. We keep having to expand the warriors den, so we can all sleep there.

[Just thinking about her home sends a pang through her chest, but it subsides a moment later.]

I have two brothers, Lionblaze and Jayfeather. Jayfeather is the...medicine cat of our Clan, so he sleeps in that den, but Lionblaze is a warrior, like me, so oftentimes we curl up together after a long patrol or a good day's hunt.

Jayfeather's grumpy. Like he's got thorns in his paws, he'll make a wonderfully cranky elder one day. But...he's also very caring. He's the most empathetic cat I know, and he's determine to make everyone see that he's just as strong and good as any other cat...maybe better.

And Lionblaze is...excitable. He charges into things, but he's getting better. He used to, when we were kits, get us into all sorts of trouble...but then, we all did that, he just did a little more. He follows his heart...the goods, and the bads. But he's loyal. Loyal, and strong, and I wouldn't have any other cat fighting beside me.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

[Waver listened attentively as Hollyleaf spoke, inwardly remarking to himself on how interesting all their names sounded and wondering how they got them.]

Sounds like you really do have a big family. [For less than a second he recalled Rider's Ionian Hetairoi--the army of his followers that persisted even after death. His followers seemed to share the same love and devotion as any family. but of course that wasn't the same, and so the thought was almost immediately dismissed.]

I'm...almost a little jealous.

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

[A strained smile remains on Hollyleaf's face.]

I've got it easy. One of the queens in our Clan, Ferncloud, she has so many kits... I don't think even they can keep track of which ones of them are kin or not.

[Her tail flicks.] I'm sorry, though. Being lonely...how awful it must be.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

I'm mostly used to it by now. Being on my own means it's quieter and I can just study without anyone bothering me.

[waver normal people don't find that to be fun]

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

[guess what hollyleaf's not normal people.]

But wouldn't it be fun with others? Trading notes or strategies. Group training when I was an apprentice was always the best. ...That's like studying, right? I've only ever had to memorize herbs or berries.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

I...guess I don't know if it'd be fun or not. No one ever really offered to study with me.

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

...We could try? There's so much I...need to learn about humans... Every time you all talk, I feel like you're all talking badger.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

O-oh--sorry, I didn't even realize...s-sure, I could help you with that if you wanted me to.

[action]

[notmyprophecy]

I can teach you something too. An information trade.

[action]

[velveteenmage]

You really don't need to trade anything with me, but I guess you can if you'd want to.