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]

And do you believe in heroes, Sieglinde?

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

[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]

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.

[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]

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.]

[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.]

[babbylon]

[Yes. Exactly the point he's trying to make. Funny how a child understands it but grown men and women are frequently left baffled.]

Some might consider them a dying breed. Others would give everything they have to meet just one. And the people of this world... well, undeniably, they're crying out for salvation. And we are the ones to give it to them. Today, we are "heroes", but tomorrow...

[Gilgamesh cannot see beyond sight as he once did, but he doesn't need to in order to predict a turbulent future. They'd already saved creatures responsible for a world's end. The morality of it all would only get murkier over time. More blood spilled in the name of heroism. More actions to justify.

"How many have you killed like this, Archer?"

"Enough."

Gilgamesh does not look anything like despaired, but he does appear a little muted now.]

Tomorrow, we may have much more to answer for.

[grunehexe]

The humans of this world desire heroes, as do the goblins, as do the Order... and to each of them, a "hero" may be a "villain" to the other.

[The events of the first world they'd visited had made it perfectly clear to Sieglinde that what they were doing couldn't be called "good".

But they had to, selfishly, to return to their worlds... and she couldn't come up with a solution to get around it, no matter how hard she thought about it.]

I'm afraid that is part of why I cannot take pride in what we do for ALASTAIR.

[babbylon]

You will become that villain to return home, Sieglinde.

[It's not even a question, as if he'd be so kind. It's a statement of fact. A reality not yet realized. Truth.]

[grunehexe]

... I do not know if I shall, actually.

[That's part of the problem. A part of her didn't even want to return home.

- But even if she didn't actively participate in ALASTAIR's missions, only healing those who did... she was still complicit. She couldn't deny that.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh catches that bit of ambiguity and looks all the more curious for it. And of course he presses, particularly because it isn't any of his business.]

Which world would make you into a weapon?

[Perhaps they both would. How delightfully tragic.]

[grunehexe]

[Which one, indeed. Ciel had assured her she could go to England with him, that under protection of the Queen she would be allowed to work towards a cure for the poison she had created... but would she? And if she stayed with ALASTAIR... would they truly allow her to simply remain a healer?]

I would not have either one do so.

[And she'd rather die than allow it.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh chuckles in sincere amusement.]

Such a daring young woman. I suppose we'll see what becomes of you, hm? I look forward to it.

[grunehexe]

[He was a spirit, she supposed he would live far longer than her- so. Perhaps he would.]

Only time will tell.

[But she'll be using that time to study up.]