video; [KINGOFHEROES]

[babbylon]

[The feed opens to Gilgamesh lounging on a couch, wine in hand, smirking faintly at nothing in particular. A snowy white lion which some of you may recognize lies curled on the floor, napping away; as for Gilgamesh himself, he's as relaxed as could be. Quite a far cry from his time in imprisonment.

And indeed, when he speaks, he sounds confident as ever—albeit in a lazy sort of way, words flowing like syrup.]

What does "heroism" mean to you?

[An open-ended question he allows to hang, for a moment or so, before continuing on.]

Would you consider what we're doing here to fall along those lines? Or, perhaps... yes, I'm aware some of you are new to this little group activity of ours, regarding the sun. And doubtful that you're all as sincerely invested as ALASTAIR wishes us to be. It does seem a bit trifling.

[Only Gilgamesh could consider the death of light itself to be trifling. He yawns, then rolls over, kicking his feet impatiently like a child awaiting entertainment.]

If they all died, it wouldn't really matter, would it? ALASTAIR would spirit us away to the next grand adventure and the cycle starts anew.

[In his obstinance, Gilgamesh dumps his wine right on the floor. He seems to revel in it, in the mess he's made. In the mess he intends to make.]

So I suppose what I'm asking is [smile blossoming into a grin] do you believe it's possible to save everyone, at the expense of yourself? Is that the proper way of a hero, or just someone naive enough to pursue "goodness"? To those we put atop pedestals, were they ever worth admiring at all?

[His eyes narrow at his jewelry. To call them serpentine would be an understatement.]

To those who believe firmly in the principles of justice—do you earnestly think you were doing the right thing all along? I wonder.

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video | username; sieglindesullivan

[grunehexe]

[Sieglinde has... so many questions. Where did that lion come from? How bad was that wine to get poured on the floor?

And what did make a hero, anyway, when you thought about it? It wasn't just sacrifice, and it wasn't just a sense of justice... nor did she believe it was something so easily decided by humans and not the test of time. But firstly....]

Are you truly interested in the opinions of the masses in regards to the nature of a hero?

[It seemed to her as if it was more pointed than that.]

video | un: pearl

[beyourrock]

[Well, he does bring up a good point. After Anwick, Pearl had questioned ALASTAIR'S motives, only briefly. But this new mission of theirs, trying to bring the sun back... those concerns rose to the surface once again. She exhales heavily, with a slump of her shoulders.]

I'm not sure if we are doing the right thing anymore. [She shrugs and looks down at her lap.]

This was originally a conflict between humans and goblins. And we just came right into the middle of it all. Meddling, if anything. And it's only gotten us locked up... more than once.

[babbylon]

Interested may be too strong of a word for it.

[Meaning no, not really. As usual, he's just finding ways to eat up time in between whatever passed for missions.]

Let's go with "fleetingly curious" for now.

[babbylon]

Are you losing faith, Pearl?

[He doesn't comment on it either way. Just stares, unblinkingly, at the necklace, expecting an answer.]

[beyourrock]

Faith?

[In ALASTAIR? Maybe. Then again, there was no reason to trust the organization in the first place, seeing how they snatched her and Steven away from home. Pearl smiles a little, bittersweet with a knitted brow.]

I know many people here are trying their best with what they have to work with here. I'm just not sure about ALASTAIR's motives, even more so than before.

[grunehexe]

[Well, curiosity she can understand... but she sort of disagrees with the premise...]

Those history remembers as heroes and those who are heroes to another are an entirely different matter... as is the nature of their heroism.

[So which one was it?]

video; un: hawkeye

[strictdiscipline]

[Gilgamesh's nonchalance—in both voice and behavior—do little to settle Riza's unease upon seeing his face display so proudly over the network once more. Despite Pearl's willingness to befriend him, Riza finds herself unwilling just yet to let down her guard around him.]

Perhaps you should share your own thoughts on the matter first.

[Fair trade, and all that.]

text . un : clarkegriffin

[regida]

no. they aren’t worth admiring. i don’t think that heroes exist.

what we’re doing here, it isn’t heroism. and what we’ve already done has crossed the line of the right thing. if the right thing exists, either.

it seems like you wouldn’t care, if everyone died here.

are you going to clean that up?

[babbylon]

Well, it makes no difference.

[Despite all he's said, he's willing to divulge more of the truth to Pearl. Their bond had been no accidental feat; he intends to honor it, for as long as it keeps him alive. That is her use to him. For as long as that contract remains, he will heed her will and abide her orders.

But no further than that. He's too wild for anything like true obedience. Inside, rebellion churns.]

We are acting together now. So if you tell me to strike someone down, I will. And if I must salvage the sun, I will. It's as simple as that.

[babbylon]

And do you believe in heroes, Sieglinde?

[That was, after all, the crux of the matter. Which is it? Yes or no?]

[babbylon]

Haven't I already?

[If she'd been listening closely, she would've realized he already gave his stance away: the heroes we idolize are lies. But just for her sake, he sighs and assumes a burdensome shrug, elaborating a bit more.]

Heroism is, in itself, a meaningless term. The definition varies much too broadly and the stereotypes are, how we shall say...

[His pupils thin, like little black razors in a sea of red.]

...incorrect.

[babbylon]

Heroes do exist. Just not as we imagine them to be.

[Though he can agree with the rest of the sentiment, and appreciate the healthy dose of skepticism present.]

Let's see, something like clean-up duty... I'd regulate it to someone else. I only step in when absolutely necessary, as a rule.

[beyourrock]

There will be no need to strike anyone down.

[She says sternly, sitting up straighter as her hand absentmindedly covers her command seals. Her lips purse into a thin line as she studies the heroic spirit for a moment.]

Do you wish to help these people? Human and goblin alike?

[grunehexe]

I believe in both sorts of heroes, yes.

[The two who had rescued her from the lie her life had been in the Witch Forest were heroes to her, after all. And though she didn't believe they were a common breed... she believed in the sorts of heroes whose tales were sung in books.]

[babbylon]

No.

[No need to lie, and he can't, really. She will undoubtedly learn, in due time, how to skim his thoughts; he had already mastered hers. And so she will learn just what she made such a deal with and will come to regret it as all others before her. In the end, even Kirei likely pitied himself.

...but there's nothing to be sad about. That's just the way of things.]

The world called "Earth" was entrusted to my oversight, so to that garden I must return. This one holds no relevance for me.

[babbylon]

I wonder if that's something to be pitied or something to be admired.

[Gilgamesh had already made his own stance on it very clear. But...]

That sort of youthful optimism, that unyielding kind of hope—I suppose, in its own way, it is inspiring to see.

[grunehexe]

Can you say that you do not believe in them? I find that quite contradictory.

[She'll let the comment on her age slide, however- she imagined most everyone would seem young to a Sumerian king.]

[babbylon]

[Ah, but she is clever, isn't she? Gilgamesh flashes her a handsome little smile for her efforts.]

I am not like the others, child. There is no means of comparison.

[beyourrock]

[Pearl feels her chest deflate at his answer. But, again, he makes a good point. This wasn't Earth. This wasn't home. But, Pearl herself felt obligated to help. These were innocent lives being affected over a squabble! Her fingers curl against her knees into small loose fists... but she nods. Understanding, despite the disappointment in her downcasted gaze.]

I see.

I'm still going to help return the sun, in any way I can assist. [She doesn't know how but... she'll figure out some way.]

And when we return the sun... maybe we'll be one step closer to returning home.

[grunehexe]

There are heroes of legend, of song, and of the heart... Naturally, it they are on different levels. I will acknowledge that.

[But she believes in all of them, even if she'll agree that what they are capable of is quite different.]

[babbylon]

Pearl.

[Gilgamesh sits up and directs a level gaze at the feed.]

I will return. I am no animal for someone to stick in a cage and order about for sport. But until that time, I have chosen to assist you. Do not despair, and do not presume my whims so fanciful that I would neglect our arrangement. If it is your wish to restore the sun...

[He can't cement it with a smile; this sort of loyalty isn't quite earnest. This isn't what he wants. But he does nod, decisively, and that seems to seal the deal instead.]

Then let us see it done. I will follow through on that much.

[babbylon]

It would be very tragic indeed if you were to meet the heroes of my world.

[Heroes like Archer, who weren't, really. Heroes like Saber, who drowned themselves in their own misery only to die as worthless martyrs to the cause. Heroes like Rider, who thirsted so greatly for life they did not spy death at their heels until it was too late.

And Heroes like Gilgamesh, who died old and withered and full of overpowering regret.]

For now, hold closely to that ideal. Pray that none would come along and shatter it. Maybe it will last.

[But it definitely won't.]

[beyourrock]

It's not my wish. It's all of these people. It's their wish. To be able to see the light again. To see their world in all of it's natural beauty, instead of it being overshadowed by eternal darkness. They deserve to be happy again, and to be worry free.

[With all this tension rising, and now ALASTAIR's own being seen as fugitives... Surely people were afraid to step out of their homes without a weapon on hand. The goblins were accomidating for the time being, but how long would it be before the scales would be tipped once more?

She bows her head, grateful, satisfied that Gilgamesh was settled on helping.]

Thank you. For your support.

[babbylon]

There is no need for thanks.

[He didn't have much of a use for it. But he's long since recognized that she can be a flighty and uncertain thing, so he lets her have this. The role to building self-confidence wasn't paved with constant put-downs and pessimism, after all, and he wouldn't mind seeing her a bit more confident.

He'll just remain privately unenthused and keep his scruples to himself.]

And there is little else I can do besides help, stuck in these pigsties they call domiciles. Let us file it away as a happy coincidence and leave it at that.

[grunehexe]

You needn't consider me so naive as to believe that to be a hero is to be perfect.

[After all... the stories she was raised on weren't exactly the same as the ones her counterparts in the modern day were, nor even the ones her contemporaries in other countries were. (Medieval Germans, amirite?)]

A man may be a hero one day and a sinner the next, or just as easily claim the title yet be far from it.

[After all... she'd striven to be a hero for the villagewomen who relied on her, only to end up creating a woman to kill thousands.

... "Heroes" were such tricky things, weren't they.]