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]

It prompted discussion, did it not? Look how many snapped at such obvious bait.

[...]

Also, I'm dreadfully bored and humans love these mundanely circular questions. They devote entire careers to it, you know.

[The dastardly truth revealed.]

[naturallywavy]

If you wanted to talk to people, you could have just said A/S/L and move along with it. It's annoying— what you talk about.
_{[ Look, he's older, but he knows that's how all the cool kids in the 90's started in chat rooms. .. Not like he is from the 90's time period anyway but you know. Either way, it's a hypocritical response, because he actually is engaging in the conversation: ]}

Some people here want to be heroic by their definitions, and some people don't. Some people want to do good, and some people want to do bad.
What people should do is do what they want and what they believe in. That is what is heroic to me. _{[ Being true to yourself; he thinks that is heroic, no matter how ill the heart is ]
[ even if their intentions or good or bad; it doesn't matter. Gintoki has his own opinion on what is good and what is bad, but what is "heroic" could be either in his way of thinking. ]}

[babbylon]

Do I look like some underage pock-faced chatroom monitor to you?

[Never forget, Gintoki, that Gilgamesh is every bit as genre savvy as you. Perhaps even more so.]

What a useless answer, besides. In effect, you're just saying, "People are as they choose to be." When in reality, they're anything but.

[naturallywavy]

A useless answer for a useless question. _{[ He supposes. ]}
People should choose who they want to be without any other influences. The hardest battle a person can face is with themselves.

_{[ He scratches at his ear. That's not really important to him— Gintoki is very much a choose your path and live your life kind of person. That's what he was taught in temple school; he doesn't like rules or restrictions to practically anything. ]}

Oi, does this mean I fail the class, Gil-senseiii?

[babbylon]

[Long. Suffering. Sigh. Why didn't he kill you when he had the chance... literally, thousands of them.]

As if I'd deign to take you under my majestic wing to begin with. You're the worst sort of hero of all, you useless booger brain.

[naturallywavy]

At least I am on my path to being a hero by my own standards.
<sub>[ There is a lot of work to be done; it is a long path. There is a lot is a lot of damage he has to fix, but.. once Gintoki feels like he is completely and utterly happily, well.

He'll feel like a hero to himself. He doesn't care if other people think he is a hero and he doesn't seek acceptance and gratitude for what he does. He doesn't want to be a hero to other people— just himself.
And the only way for him to reach that point is to self-sacrifice himself for others by whatever means possible. ]</sub>

[babbylon]

And if you should fail?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ instantly: ]}
I won't.

[babbylon]

[Oh? This just got interesting.]

Why so certain?

[naturallywavy]

_{[ A pretty sincere smile spreads across his face. This might be the first one Gilgamesh has ever seen. ]}

I don't break promises.
<sub>[ Not the promises he has made to his subordinates— to apprentice one of them further. Not the promise to made to the old lady to protect her until she dies. Not the promise he made to his teacher before he was decapitated to keep his friends safe— and how he should always use a sword to protect others.

The list goes on. ]</sub>

Not even the ones I make to myself.

[babbylon]

[...what an honest sort of expression. Gintoki had always made himself difficult to ignore to begin with, but even Gilgamesh cannot find fault in what he says. He believes it as absolute truth. It's hard to mock someone so self-assured, so he doesn't bother.]

I see.

[Gilgamesh recovers swiftly enough from anything that might be classified as a stupor and waves the matter off.]

I hope that included a promise to make yourself more presentable. Your charisma... it's so atrocious, it detracts from my own when in close proximity.

[naturallywavy]

I wouldn't count on it. It takes effort. It's a pain— making yourself presentable. It's like, for example— ...
...

....
Thinking of an example is a pain.
_{[ He will say that as he picks idly at his teeth. ]}

[babbylon]

You are utterly hopeless, mongrel.

[But Gilgamesh appears to be laughing under his breath all the same... and for that reason, he lives. For now.]

[naturallywavy]

_{[ There a little grunt— was he possibly frustrated with this insult? Maybe some. That's a first! What a feat. He lazily drawls out: ]}

What would be "presentable" according to you?
_{[ not like he cares??? just kinda curious, he guesses. ]}

[babbylon]

Cancel all further nose and nose-related excavations. At least in public, what a man does in his private time is sacred.

[...

...

...

Yeah, you'd better believe he's dead-eyeing you now, son.]

I've lost your attention, I'm aware, but in case you should ever make it this far, you may also consider a cessation of references to bodily functions.

[naturallywavy]

There isn't anything wrong about talking about ****** or *****ing or nose picking or XXX or even XXXXing. Speaking of sacred time, ************ is fine to talk about too. If I talk about my ****s, what does it matter?
Oi, that's why the censorship is there. The PTA has never gotten entirely angry at me.. I never got an angry letter from them. <sub>If I did.. I might have spilled ramen on it and had to throw it out.

[ ???
he'll listen to the PTA but not you evidently. ]</sub>

[babbylon]

[Gods, what even is this. Gilgamesh cringes. He looks like he just got struck in the face with a frying pan. A frying pan that reeked of lingering fart.]

...never mind. Just do whatever, it's fine. And stop censoring yourself, everyone knows what you're saying, anyway!

[naturallywavy]

Of course it's fine. _{[ It's who he is. ]
[ Though, you've given him something to think about for awhile..
... I doubt anything positive will come from it. ( It won't. ) ]}

Gil-san, you should try picking your nose sometime and you'll understand the gratification it can give you.
The simplest things can bring you the greatest pleasures. Not everything has to be big and obnoxious like your ego.
_{[ he's referring to something else precious to him at this moment, but continue to think this is about nose picking. ]}

[babbylon]

My body does not produce any degree of waste. It's an impossible request.

[No, Gin, he doesn't fart, before you ask.]

...so is that other thing.

[Looks like he got the message. Sort of.]