video; [KINGOFHEROES]

[babbylon]

[Greetings and salutations, comrades of ALASTAIR! The face of a handsome young man opens the feed today, smiling wide and surrounded by lions on his bed. Yes, that's right, lions. Shishi, his mount, sits in the background, with his mate nestled nearby. And atop him, crawling across his legs, over his shoulders, even rubbing at his face, are cubs, golden and white and feisty. They growl and chirp at the jewelry floating just a few feet away, and a particularly brave one bats at it.

Their parents, as well as Gilgamesh himself, look appropriately proud.]

Good day. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of meeting me before, I am Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, and your resident lion tamer. I bred them as a hobby, back in my native Uruk, and so I have once again come into possession of several cubs.

[The cubs themselves appear no more than six weeks old. Gilgamesh has to shift a little to accommodate them, as they are absolutely intent on making the broadcast difficult by shoving their little furry bodies everywhere. Not that it bothers him much—he's laughing under his breath.]

They have all been weaned from their mother and thus are ready for distribution. Alas, I cannot keep so many for myself; I aim to find good homes for them among you all. I do ask you bear in mind these are wild animals at heart, requiring a great degree of time and attention to train.

[Though you'd never know it, seeming so harmless, so adorable.. After a time, Gilgamesh surrenders, and gets swallowed up by their insistent pawing.]

They are not... just... housecats to sit on a shelf and... w-wait, do not touch it...!

[The necklace goes flying down the hall as a mischievous cub bounds after it. Gilgamesh will snatch it back... eventually.]

(( All lions have now found loving homes! Thanks for the interest, everyone! ))

Comments

[defenceless]

["her lady"...

rin arrives, toting a sack of mixed treats as she'd promised—and they may all be scraps of meat coming from the kitchen, who knows what she'd been using them for, exactly, but they're treats. as predicted, she doesn't have to even open the door before shishi is in front of her, crowding for her attention. out of sight, she coos and dotes over him, lavishing him with love.

it's definitely not how rin typically appears, to most recruits or to most people in general, but this softer side suits her.]

Ah, Shishi! Congratulations, you know? You're a father, now. ... Introduce me to your wife, like a proper lion.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh's merry band of lions all betray him once Rin arrives with treats for them all. He allows it, though, and looks on with amusement as they paw and nudge at her for the food. Shishi obeys her as he would his own master—swifter, even—and rubs along the beautiful lioness who shies towards the edge of the pack. She's nothing like scared, of course, but her tail remains between her legs, uncertain of this visitor.]

Ah... I've not given her a name quite yet. She may have held it against me.

[Rin's cub, now designated by a jeweled collar, sits firmly in place and awaits her notice. He is a prim and proper thing and does not nudge ahead like the others, instead bidding for attention with good behavior. The perfect fit for a proud magus of the Tohsaka lineage.]

[defenceless]

[she is both affectionate and appropriately strict with the lions and cubs, freely offering larger steaks to the bigger cats while the babies receive bite-size chunks she's torn off. rin seems to only notice gilgamesh once he speaks; he's watching her, again, but she's noticeably less bothered by it this time.]

You haven't named her? [her eyebrows quirk up in wonder.] That can't be allowed. She needs a name.

[rin is keeping a safe distance from the lioness, having spotted her reluctance, but she eyes her warmly nonetheless. she wouldn't tolerate going without a name, so it should be no different for shishi's mate.]

—Seshat. [a powerful name for a majestic beast.] Name her that.

[without another word, rin carefully closes in on the patient white cub waiting for her. indeed, his disciplined behavior appeals to her. it's like a cat, but far more exotic, rare, and likely obedient—of particular aid in magic, too. and the jeweled collar certainly gleams in her eyes.

rin shifts gently to her knees and slowly reaches out with a hand to scratch behind his ears.]

Mm, what do you think? Do you like me? Would you like to come home with me? I've got a nice Servant who knows how to fetch fresh meat.

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh will admit this much: Rin conducted herself with confidence in nearly all affairs. He watches her with the cubs, and is assured in that moment she will care for her own quite capably. Earnest smiles are rare from him, but she gets one in return for her compassion. He ducks his head in acknowledgment, and if only for now, plays the role of a proper Servant—obedient and accommodating.]

Then it shall be so.

[The lionness, henceforth dubbed Seshat, seems to sense the good will in this individual, and so approaches her at last. She licks along the white cub's face and greets Rin with a swish of her tail about her legs. A loving lion, like Shishi, if a bit more reticent with her affections.

The cub accepts any and all attention with admirable grace. There can be no doubt; Gilgamesh's choice for her was purposeful.]

You are very good with them. It gladdens me to see.

[It has been a slow and uncertain road, but it seems that the Tohsaka magus and the tyrant King may be getting along at last.]

[defenceless]

[circled by seshat at her back, rin scoops up the tiny white lion cub and cradles him in her arms much like an infant. she holds him to her chest and she stares across the room at gilgamesh, meeting his eyes straight on while she wears a direct and small, if daring, smirk.]

Of course. I will have to raise my own child one day, you know.

[babbylon]

[A daring smirk is met with a clever raise of Gilgamesh's brows. Gods only know what he's scheming in that head of his.]

So the beautiful heiress desires an heir of her own? Hm...

[defenceless]

[oh, rin has a few good ideas.]

What are you thinking?!

[her new "baby" nearly startles at her raised voice.]

[babbylon]

You aglow and with child?

[At least no one could ever accuse him of being dishonest. Sort of.]

[defenceless]

I-I'll attack you if you even take one step forward, to make me the mother of your offspring!