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]

Creation and destruction are part of the same cycle. There's no inherent sin or wrongdoing in it.

[hardtohandle]

Hmm. [it's not that he wants to call the statement out as entirely wrong, just,] I like humans a biiiit too much to see it that way. Yeah, they're pretty fragile when you get down to it, but I'd rather not be involved in a whole world of them being destroyed.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh tips his hand a little; anything involving humans will always gain his interest, no matter how much he claims to revile them. So he asks:]

Is there a particular reason you care for them so much?

[hardtohandle]

Humans made me, after all. [Three times over, humans had made him. First with a smith creating the blade that was his "body," second with the way he was used shaping his soul, finally with the sage giving him a body.] Consider it a kind of filial piety.

I might be able to get by without them, now, but... [what's a sword, without someone to use it?] You know, love is holding onto something, even if you don't "need" it. [It's a little hypocritical for him to say; he loves being needed by humans and he needs to feel loved.]

[babbylon]

[Well, Gilgamesh supposes he can't really be blamed for finding something to like about his creators... even if he personally was only ever bitter towards the gods responsible for his birth. He has no love for them just as he would have no love for humans if he weren't designed to oversee them.

So it leaves him at a bit of an impasse, and ultimately, he just shrugs.]

Understood.

[It's as much of a concession as he'll allow. Savor it, Kashuu.]

Though I disagree on the nature of love. You have it backwards.

[hardtohandle]

Eh, backwards? That could go a few ways... [he considers for a second,] Needing something so badly you refuse to let it go?

[babbylon]

Yes.

[His brow crinkles to think of it. Of someone.]

In reality, that's the most admirable sort of love.

[hardtohandle]

Well, it's certainly passionate... it matches you, I guess. [The lion, the wine, the username; they all painted a picture that fit perfectly with his declaration.]

[babbylon]

[Uh-oh. Compliment detected. This quickly presents itself as a mistake.]

Why, how keen of you to notice! I've always considered myself as much. It's the only way to live, really, indulging in the pleasures of the world...

[hardtohandle]

[He's glad it's audio and Gilgamesh can't see the immediate "ew" reaction face.] It's hard not to notice, I think...

[babbylon]

I see you are an individual of exceptional taste. You are surely to be praised for your soundness of character!

[...it's only getting worse.]