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.

Comments

[babbylon]

Is that all there is...?

[Gilgamesh has spoken with many on the subject, now, but only with Koltira does he sound the slightest bit depressed.]

[respired]

[Hmn. He switches to video.]

No. We must do what we can while we have the means to do it. If we are forced to defy death, we must defy it fully.

[babbylon]

I suppose you would know best, hm?

[Koltira has earned enough good favor that Gilgamesh says it with a small smile rather than mockingly. He may even look a little cheerier to see his face. It's a very handsome thing for being dead.]

You mentioned before you hailed from a land of heroes. But does that make you one as well?

[inroad]

[ ahahaha ahahaha













—SLAMS THE FUCKING JEWELRY PIECE ACROSS THE ROOM SO FAST IT CRACKS THE WALL WHERE IT IMPACTS.

ok. ugh okay he's either really not bluffing or he deserves anyway if he is, Masamune concludes.

Better listen to archer. excuse him he's going to just flop back on his bed and roll over under the blanket and hide under it, head included, to avoid having to explain to either Sieg or the butler what just went down that crack in the wall has nothing to do with him he's been taking a well deserved nap for the past hour god.

Maybe he can just suffocate himself with the pillow and not have to think about any of this for a while. Just pausing for a second gives him an awful reminder combo of the ending to that fight and that glimpse of a video response before the accessory magically flew out of his hands augh.

Ahaha what a bad joke?! he has never felt so goddamn flustered and had his face burn like this in his life. Better keep that ice down In his pants as damage control for now. Just in case.

Gil you asshole... ]

[babbylon]

[Dude. Chill.]

[inroad]

[ shut up you aren't the one that has to come to terms with the fact the first time ever you aren't the dominant party of the circumstances the one who is has a leopard suit of choice for his wardrobe. ]

[unoradinary]

Well, aside from that...

[Yeah...she, uh. Wasn't gonna mention any of that.]

I'm glad you've had at least one friend.

[babbylon]

[...!]

[babbylon]

[...]

[babbylon]

[...Gilgamesh cuts the feed without further explanation.]

[unoradinary]

[...well.

She knows not to push it, though...not right now anyway. She's said enough for one day.

Good talk buddy.]

[powerdriven]

Not me.

[ Levi's correction is interrupted by Gilgamesh's laughter, but he doesn't repeat it.

just because he's been called names like that before doesn't mean he's talking about himself. but come on. this guy doesn't really think the rest of them are this dense, does he? it's clear he didn't get the response he wanted from his provocation in the jail, and Levi isn't even aware he's not the only one to receive the treatment. ]

You really made a quick turn around, you pig. Isn't there anything more to this Master-Servant business than the provided slop for you to roll in?

[ in other words, is he really already in a position to be hassling them for entertainment? it's a shame his new master can't withhold his source of prana at will for disciplinary purposes. ]

[showmeyourwreath]

I gathered. You weren't being as subtle as you thought, but you shouldn't be slaughtering people so baselessly in the first place, what is the matter of you?!

[headlining]

[Actually, you may not have misunderstood at all, Gil, because Keats, well...he kind of thinks he needs to do his job. He may be kidnapped by a strange organization and thrown into an alternate dimension, and he may not believe anything he's seeing, but damn him if he doesn't get a scoop out of this. Even if it is a hilarious scoop he'll probably chuckle over reading.]

[He works for an occult magazine, after all. Part of the stories in that thing are read for entertainment.]

Haha, alright, alright, calm down now, there's an order to these things. I'd have to record the thing, you see, so a possible interview could only be done face to face. Plus, I'm sure you would have a lot to say. I'd have to take notes, and all.

[hideyourself]

fair enough.

no present, no past, barely a future... what's it matter ?

[sunderings]

It is always humans, isn't it? Mortals who, in their weakness, possess the strongest power. The greatest faith. With will alone, a man can distort all the logic in the world, and all truths become his own. He can defy fear. He can scorn to compromise with death, and he can challenge the hand of fate.

[ —the words are lofty, if not romantic, yet somehow poignantly sad. ]

And so, it is humanity which makes a Hero. A love for humanity which is as deep and profound as life itself.

[ ...and so too can that love prompt the darkest, most horrific deeds. This, Sion knows.

For a moment, he seems to consider Gilgamesh, thinking on the Mad Goddesses and their defeat, what it would mean for the whole of Menoris.

(And the sacrifice necessary to ascertain his victory.) ]

Your 'long ago' is the present in my realm, and I will neither falter nor fail in my campaign. Though I wonder...

[ His golden eyes are wide, oddly solemn when he asks: ]

Do you love humanity, still?

[babbylon]

I wasn't aware I had been under the watchful eye of the morality police.

[Not that it would've stopped him anyway.]

You sound like a woman. A particularly meddlesome one.

[babbylon]

[Is he being toyed with here? If this person's human, they're an awfully strange one. Gilgamesh regains his composure and furrows his brow.]

I paint my future with my own strokes. It matters.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh looks positively ecstatic! Either he just has that much of a taste for the spotlight, or his moods were prone to whiplash; all talk of otherwise dismembering Keats disappears in favor of his big debut. Could friendship blossom between two unlikely comrades after all?!]

That will not pose an issue. And I will allow you to take appropriate documentation, nay, I insist upon it!

[He has to get everything just right. Oh, it's been too long since he's been in tabloids, this is so exciting...!]

We should commence at once! A story as riveting as this cannot wait!

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh cannot be so easily dissuaded, however. He laughs at the innocent way she says it, my views are simple, and so he's drawn in by it; his emptied glass of wine refills itself and he indulges a hearty sip, admiring his reflection in the glass.]

Did you have a favorite sort of hero?

[She may just note he's treating her like a child now, with the patronizing lilt to his tone.]

[babbylon]

You elected to respond.

[So apparently they're both bored enough to engage in a bit of pointless back-and-forth. Gilgamesh doesn't really react to being called a pig other than to snort imperiously, as if the very act of doing so renders it all but inert.

Gilgamesh makes a dismissive motion of his hand, seemingly above it all, although...]

However, it's true we've had this discussion before. And I don't expect you're the sort of man to change your mind, so I'll ask another question instead.

[His eyes narrow just a hair. They're nothing like a pig's, but they're certainly very animalistic. Borderline feral.]

Did you ever believe in anyone enough to call them "hero"?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh shuts his eyes.

And he smiles.]

I wonder about that.

[keystaff]

Well....I am, a little. But that hasn't stopped me still trying to help. I think a lot of us are probably scared and worried, being away from home and all. The fighting. But we can't let that stop us.

[She is scared. Terrified, at times. But that hasn't yet stopped her from acting. Not yet. Sakura tries to push on and keep going in spite of her fear. Remembering the support of her friends. Having some support here, too. The drive to get back home.

It may be that one day her fear and selflessness will get the best of her and she will end up killed as a result. But not yet.]

[headlining]

[AND SO KEATS AVOIDED A TERRIBLE FATE OF BEING IMPALED BY A SPEAR. Ah, the act of appealing to Gilgamesh's vanity and narcissism, you saved the day. Somehow.]

Then set a time and a place, and I'll see what I can do about that. I can't shirk on my work, so I'd better get started on it soon enough.

[Just mentally going "HEADLINE: GILGAMESH IS A GIANT DWEEB INCARNATE" right now, don't mind him.]

[babbylon]

What? We cannot do it right now?

[He's impatient, alright. He's great and everyone needs to know about it.]