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

Video | un: Clara

[spacegirl]

[This is a complicated few questions to consider. And really, it feels like opening up a can of worms in the form of inviting everyone that can see this to have a story sharing session that thinly conceals everyone's need for a good therapist. ]

Everyone's going to have their own definition of being a hero. To me, it means doing whatever it takes to save someone. Even if it takes sacrificing yourself. There's nothing naive about putting someone else before yourself. Not when you're sure it's what you want to do.

[There's a pause, and she gives him a curious look.]

Why does all of this matter to you?

[babbylon]

[The eyes that look back at her are almost searingly red, but they too are no worse than inquisitive. Sharp, but not necessarily unkind—for the moment, anyway.]

I hold the title "King of Heroes" and therefore rule over all such beings. I find amusement in how others view the nature of my station.

[In other words, a candid confession that he's less interested in playing therapist and more interested in poking at people with a proverbial stick. And judging from how this post has gone so far, he's been pretty successful riling up the masses. Score another one for the King of Lounge Queens.]

[spacegirl]

[Her eyebrows arch at that and she very carefully chooses her words. She doesn't want to insult him, but also wants to offer her honest thoughts.]

Just because you hold a title doesn't mean that you've earned it. Or that you're going to keep it, in a place like this.

[babbylon]

[Bluntly:]

I was born with it. The nature of my crown is self-assuming, like the existence of air. Or sunli— [...] —never mind.

[spacegirl]

The nature of your crown only exists where you're from. Pretty sure you're going to have to earn any titles, in a place like this.

[babbylon]

[...]

[babbylon]

You seem to have misunderstood. You are not afforded a choice in this scenario.

[spacegirl]

[She laughs, fixing him with a look of near disbelief.]

What, your imaginary scenario where your title is useful here?

[Her eyebrows arch and she laughs once again, giving a shake of her head.]

To answer your last question: justice is a biased system that typically falls back on an eye for an eye mentality. I don't think anyone can truly believe in the principles of it. Least not how it's meant to be believed in. You can't trust humans with something like it. They'll muck it up, first chance they get.

[babbylon]

Humans such as yourself?

[Gilgamesh has dropped the borderline pleasant airs in favor of feeling her out now, rather like a snake coiling itself around something interesting.]

[spacegirl]

[Her initial response is a mere shrug. If she's being honest with herself and him, she hasn't felt human in a long while now. Her connections to Earth are minimal, if they even exist anymore at all. And she's not even sure she's completely human anymore anyway.]

Maybe.

[Her answer is almost teasing, and the smile goes along with her playful tone.]

It's been a while since I've spent a proper amount of time on Earth. I'm not sure how human that makes me.

[babbylon]

Humans fall under my jurisdiction. If you are human, you belong to me.

[And Gilgamesh appears quite satisfied with this simple bit of logic. Though really, he'll just appear childish to an onlooker, puffing himself up as if he's some sort of peacock and assuming this will sway her. One can practically see the feathers sprouting all around him.

His expression even seems to read are you convinced yet? For a 5,000 year old tyrant, Gilgamesh could be awfully childish.]

But I would hear stories of other worlds. They interest me.

[spacegirl]

I'm Clara Oswald, and I belong to no one.

[Her tone holds amusement, as well as a bossiness that says she's stubborn enough to argue with him on the point.]

I could tell you stories about other worlds, though. I've been to so many different places, I could spend days telling you about them.

[babbylon]

[Uh-oh? Bossy, cute, and petite? He's getting worked up all over again in a pretty bad way and Saber's nowhere to be found. This could mean trouble... but thankfully Clara's offered him a juicy enough bone by way of knowledge that he decides to behave himself.]

That or you've never met anyone worthy of holding your leash.

[...mostly. Look, he's not pulling out any pointy weapons for marriage proposals, it's a start.]

But you are correct. Humans cannot be trusted to govern themselves. They require a higher authority for guidance.

[spacegirl]

[That first part gets her eyes to widen, and her jaw drops, just a bit. She's almost speechless, but she's got a sharp tongue and a fast mind, so she's able to come up with something. Bantering with him is proving to be enjoyable, so she'd be disappointed in herself if she couldn't keep it going.]

The fact that you think I'd let a collar or leash anywhere near me is a little telling of how you treat women.

[It's said dryly, more like teasing than an actual insult. She's sure he's just made a passing comment, and treats her own retort as the same.]

Think that means you're not worthy of trying to tame me. Or worthy to hear any of my stories, if you keep going on about humans.

[babbylon]

[She can hope it was just a passing comment, a slip of the tongue, a mistake...]

You'd bend, and I'd make you enjoy it, pretty little puma.

[...but it wasn't, unfortunately. That's just the sort of beast she's dealing with, and he's totally unrepentant.]

[spacegirl]

Really don't think you would.

[She scoffs, nose wrinkling up as she gives him one of her defiant stares. She's prone to giving it to the Doctor when he suggests her doing things like staying out of trouble, so it's like second nature giving him the stare down now.]

That's not a challenge. In case you were wondering.

[Because she's starting to think he might take it as one.]

[babbylon]

[He absolutely would. He'd also absolutely be monstrously obscene over the network, but he won't scare her off so soon.]

If you're from Earth, then surely you've heard the name "Gilgamesh" before. That should explain everything to you.

[spacegirl]

I'm an English teacher, of course I've heard the name Gilgamesh before.

[There's a roll of her eyes, almost as if she's insulted he's questioning her intelligence.]

Are you trying to say you're cruel and treat women like objects, and that you're in the market for -

[She stops right there. If he is who he's hinting at, it's probably best to not finish that train of thought. It's much better to just leave him with anticipation and let him wonder what she was going to say instead.]

Suppose that makes us properly introduced, then. Assuming that's what you'd like me to call you. Gilgamesh?

[babbylon]

Mm. Yes.

[Gilgamesh doesn't comment on the rest. It mostly speaks for itself, and if she squints she might just catching him looking proud about it—or at the very least insultingly unapologetic. This was indeed the tyrant of legend, who lived up to the role in every conceivable way, for better and for much, much worse.

Objects don't have personal names, though, and he does ask for hers.]

And you are? Or shall I just run through every iteration of pussycat I can think of?

[spacegirl]

Do that, and I just might have to give you a slap.

[Is she teasing? Or is she serious? It's hard to tell. But the second the words are out of her mouth she smirks, and moves right on into more easygoing banter.]

I've already told you my name. I'm Clara Oswald, and I belong to no one, remember?

[She looks rather proud of herself for repeating it, just as a friendly reminder. He probably needs it, she wagers.]

...I definitely need it too at five in the morning THAT WAS TOTALLY INTENTIONAL

[babbylon]

I just might like it.

[Or he just might cut her hand off for it. Hard to tell when you're dealing with a moody ancient that would one day try to drown the planet in toxic mud for the sake of cleansing its human filth, but for the moment he's hovering somewhere between "casually genocidal" and "definitively flirty". Which is a good thing.]

And maybe I just wanted to hear you say it again. It sounded so pleasant, coming from your lips...

[Focus, Gilgamesh. Fantasize later, tease now.]

Ah, well, I see you're not going to give in easily, so play a game with me instead.

haha it's allllll okay

[spacegirl]

[She rolls her eyes, ignoring the way her cheeks are turning a light shade of red at the turn of this conversation. She has no idea why things like this happen to her, really she doesn't.

She acts as if she has to think over his proposal for a game, and takes a moment to examine her thumbnail. When she glances back up, it almost looks as if she's going to tell him off or at least say no to his request.]

What sort of game?

[She can't help but be curious, even while realizing this is potentially reckless. She shouldn't play games with someone like this, but she also knows she can handle herself just fine. After all, if she can handle the Doctor, she can take on just about anyone.]

[babbylon]

Let us both bring our best stories to the table. Not now, of course; I'd allow you adequate time to prepare.

[Which he obviously seems to consider quite gracious. The man's completely and thoroughly into himself, and he mimics her little hand gesture. Perfectly clipped nails, of course, perfectly smooth skin. It's good to be the King.]

We'll find a third party to judge. The better minstrel between us wins it. And if you prove victorious...

[...in some hellish, bizarre, twisted alternate reality where I could ever possibly lose...]

...I'll march around with a leash on my neck for the world to see.

[spacegirl]

[Any laughter she has that's about to bubble forth dies off, and she's left staring.]

Right, so you're incredibly focused on the leash thing. Good to know.

[She doesn't agree or disagree to his terms, needing to know something further before she does. She enjoys competition and is driven to win as much as the next person, but recent events have taught her that her risk taking can sometimes be reckless for more people than just herself.]

There's not a chance I'm letting you pick the third party. 'Cos what happens if I lose?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh just licks his lips... that might say everything in itself.]