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]

[This gets him understandably huffy.]

Gilgamesh was the first hero. All those who came after owe their livelihoods to him. That isn't a matter of debate, but absolute fact.

[headlining]

The first hero written about. Can't say that means he was the first hero in existence. Remember, people historically used the spoken word more in those times, so Gilgamesh was just the lucky man who got first place in literary history.

So, is Gilgamesh an important guy? Sure, why not. Was he the first true hero created by people that later influenced people's perceptions of heroes? That's debatable.

[babbylon]

[This little...]

I'm Gilgamesh, you moron. Who else would know the truth but me?!

1/2

[headlining]

[He's just going to stare for a very long moment.]

2/2

[headlining]

[And then he'll let out a huff.]

Well, I've heard about English majors getting far too obsessed with the stuff they read for class, but this really takes the cake. I don't suppose you have a shrine to Endiku hanging out in your dorm room, too?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh just thins his eyes.]

I have his chain. The very manifestation of his soul. Along with all the treasures in the world which mark me for who and what I am.

[headlining]

So you bought a lot of old Sumerian stuff and live with some kind of bizarre delusion that you're some kind of reincarnation or have his soul or whatever. Alright, well, you seem to be having fun with that! Carry on.

[rip keats we hardly knew you]

[babbylon]

[No, no, he's totally rising to the challenge here. He absolutely won't be outdone and won't let anyone walk away thinking he isn't the real deal.]

Name a weapon of legend. Any weapon. I will draw it from my Gate.

[headlining]

[He's just going to laugh at that, SORRY GIL.]

Really? And how will that prove you're Gilgamesh? Just because you're possibly the kid of some wealthy family that's managed to replicate weapons of legend with your money doesn't make you the one true Gilgamesh.

And how would I even know if you were telling the truth if you showed a weapon to me? It's not like we really knew what weapons like Excalibur truly looked like, hm?

[babbylon]

...you're what they call a "skeptic", aren't you?

[Definitely not admitting that he got the wind snatched right of his sails just now. Poker face. Poker face to hide the pain...]

[headlining]

[HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD, GILGAMESH.]

I guess you could call me that. Me, I just say I have a healthy appreciation for logic.

[babbylon]

I've nothing to prove anyway.

[Note: this is a lie.]

Then again, I suppose logic doesn't apply as much in the realm of Heroes, so we were opposed from the start.

[headlining]

Ah, the old "logic doesn't apply to me so your argument is invalid" trick. Honestly, it's alright. You can admit you're at a disadvantage in this little debate.

[babbylon]

No, I mean that I quite literally defy logic on a daily basis. That is the very nature of magic, after all.

[headlining]

[Keats also defies logic with his own existence, but is he going to acknowledge that? NOPE.]

Ah, but how do you prove magic exists? Just saying it does isn't a solid argument.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh waves his hand and, as if by magic, a long spear appears from a golden portal, settling into his waiting grip.]

By putting you on the other end of this pike, of course.

[...he's joking, right? Right.]

[headlining]

[Keats looks like he's watching a magician fumble with a hat while trying to dig for the rabbit on the inside. Which is to say, he looks thoroughly unimpressed.]

[His tone is incredibly deadpan.]

The Gilgamesh fanboy shall try to kill me with a magical spear he summoned from out of nowhere. Whatever shall I do.

[babbylon]

Oh, I wouldn't kill you with it.

[Winning smile.]

You'd still be very much alive by the time it impaled you.

[headlining]

[His expression doesn't even falter. He almost sounds casual, like they're talking about the weather or something equally mundane.]

Oh, good! Gives me more time to talk your ear off, though I'm not sure if you want that, do you? Based on how huffy you got before.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh shoots the spear at the wall and it promptly disappears. Indeed, that attitude had him prickly earlier, but now that he's gotten used to it, it's almost cute. Like he's trying so hard for attention that he'll go about it by any means possible.

Gilgamesh, being Gilgamesh, fails to see the irony in this and opts for the patronizing approach.]

I don't know about that. You may very well tire yourself out first. Since I'm so magical and thus inexhaustible in every way.

[headlining]

Aw, you underestimate me. I've talked off the ears of many people before, I can't say a spear will stop that track record.

[He grins.]

But no need to involve spears. We can just have a good chat about your ideas. I'm a reporter for an occult magazine, after all. I'm sure my editors will love the Sumerian angle.

[babbylon]

A magazine...?

[babbylon]

Excellent! Interview me straight away! Ask me anything!

[Gilgamesh appears to have misunderstood...]

[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.

[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!