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]

One might say it's my responsibility to monitor this sort of thing.

[Which, at least in part, was true. But he may be stretching the truth about some other aspects of it. Possibly.]

But if there's no victor, then that means there's no real point to even trying. It's all wasted effort. Is that what you really believe?

[darkbarrage]

Just because you don't win doesn't mean it's not worth anything.

[babbylon]

There's no value in losing.

[darkbarrage]

You're wrong.

[babbylon]

Spoken like a true loser.

[darkbarrage]

Sounds like you're afraid to lose. Can't take getting a long, hard look at yourself?
The only way to learn is to make mistakes. Knowledge is power.
Losing isn't always a bad thing.

[babbylon]

I've never lost in my life, nor will I ever.

[Not... entirely true. But true enough he feels the need to brag about it anyway.]

That aside, I was born with all the knowledge necessary to rule my people. This "learning" you speak of does not apply to me.

[darkbarrage]

How were you born with all that?

[babbylon]

Divinity.

[darkbarrage]

That doesn't count.
That's like going through life with a cheat code.
No wonder you never lost.

[babbylon]

No wonder you're so bitter. I'd feel the same in your position.

[darkbarrage]

You sure like putting words in other people's mouths.
Never losing because destiny doesn't let you isn't winning, it's playing a fixed game. All your winnings don't count if you don't play the game right, it's like skipping to the end after one turn.
Why're you so concerned with winning, anyway? You know heroes usually lose, don't you?

[babbylon]

[Hm? That last bit...]

What makes you say that?

[darkbarrage]

Seriously?
A hero's a hero because they struggle. If you struggle, that means you can't win every time--there's gotta be something that's hard for you, you've got to lose sometime.
That's why underdogs are the best heroes.
They've really got to work to save the day.
It's not really impressive if you save a city with a flick of your wrist, but if you fight for it... that's strength.

[babbylon]

[It is not an easy feat, but this earns the trace of a smile from Gilgamesh. Even if he doesn't agree with the logic, it's at least well-founded, and even the tyrant King can appreciate a healthy bit of back-and-forth that this young man manages to put up. And it makes him curious.]

I wonder what would drive you to believe such a thing. I wonder what sort of person would honestly root for a dog.

1/2

[darkbarrage]

I don't mean an actual dog.

2/3 i lied

[darkbarrage]

[ oh right goofy uhhhhhhhh... ]

I guess I could if they were good enough.

3/3

[darkbarrage]

Haven't you ever rooted for someone to beat the impossible?

[babbylon]

Just to see them fail? Of course.

[darkbarrage]

Some king of heroes if you won't even root for them to win.
Are you the only one you want to win?

[babbylon]

Does anyone else even matter?

[What a child. He's really buying into his own bull, by the looks of it.]

[darkbarrage]

I hope you're not actually a king.
Your poor subjects.

[babbylon]

Even tyrants can be beloved. Sometimes especially so.

[darkbarrage]

Doesn't mean they deserve it.

[babbylon]

Now, now, we're not speaking from personal experience, are we? You do seem a bit invested in this...