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.

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video; username: butterfly

[digophelia]

You and I have had this discussion before.

[ Where, in fact, Alice compared heroism to her father's actions. ]

[babbylon]

[Alice...]

So we have. You do idolize that man, don't you?

[digophelia]

So, I do, but it is not who you are thinking of.

[ Alice has been careful to not mention too much of her personal life, even mention her father verbally to anyone. ]

Though, I wonder, why would it matter to you, aside from being the King of Heroes, of course. Heroism isn't so readily defined by nobility and chivalry. I'm sure you'll find that it varies, person to person.

[babbylon]

[He has to be careful with this conversation. She's another one he exposed too much to, so...]

I was under the impression that heroes stop existing for you outright.

[digophelia]

I may not subscribe to naive ideals and beliefs that all will be well, but I certainly do not believe so. There will never be no one like the man I idealized, no one will compare to him.

[babbylon]

I am already beyond that man, as King. I have been since the moment of my birth, so you shouldn't go around telling lies, Alice.

[digophelia]

How is that a lie? Don't be absurd. Anything that you will do now won't compare, simple as that.

[babbylon]

Are you even the slightest bit familiar with my legend? I owned the world, once.

[And I will own it again.]

[digophelia]

[ Not even the least bit shameful. ]

I remember little of it, yes.

[babbylon]

[So unashamed, in fact, it's beginning to annoy him.]

Then you should know my deeds were the very first and have yet to be outdone by anyone.

[digophelia]

I know very well what they are. But that will never eclipse someone I love and adore. True, there are heroic deeds, but heroic deeds are much more potent when they are done by someone you love.

[babbylon]

You are a pitifully deluded child.

[There's no real ire behind the accusation, though. She may notice it's a bit strained, like he's trying to overcompensate for something else.]

[digophelia]

I'm not a child, though you, for one, are acting like one. If you declare yourself a hero and a king, the very least you can do is carry yourself with a bit more grace.

[babbylon]

T... there's nothing ungraceful about the way I carry myself...!

[digophelia]

Just because I idealize someone else and not another's actions does not mean I am erasing what they've done. Calling me a "deluded child" is not how one carries themselves with grace.

[babbylon]

[Am I really getting cornered by this stupid girl again?!]

As if you'd know anything about it! You're barely even twelve!

[...uh, actually...]

...thirteen? Fourteen? Somewhere around there. Anyway, you don't know anything about the world and certainly nothing of manners. Don't lecture me!

[digophelia]

[ Alice starts to visibly lose her temper. She's been frequently mistaken for being younger than she is and it's starting to wear on her nerves. ]

I'm nineteen. I am no child nor a brat. I haven't been a child in a very long time.

[ She crosses her arms. ]

I don't call others names when I disagree with them. [ ... Most times. ] Of course I do.

[babbylon]

No.

You just pull on their ear and drag them around in the dirt.

[Still bitter about that, by the way.]

[digophelia]

What do you expect? What did you want me to do? I can't carry you.

[babbylon]

Wasted your time on someone else.

[digophelia]

It wouldn't have been right for me to turn away from anyone I found in a cell.

[babbylon]

Do you always do the right thing, Alice?

[digophelia]

Not everyone does the "right" thing.

[babbylon]

You seem more aware of it than most.

[digophelia]

I've seen far too many who declare what they do is right and just and are complete monsters. The notion of being pure and perfect is utterly laughable. Mankind will never be without its flaws and what is good and evil isn't so clean cut. Did you expect me to say otherwise?