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

[adlantisag]

[ Kida kneels down and lays out the fish. Her knife is pulled out and she makes terrifyingly quick work of it, paring out the best pieces for little mouths to eat. This, at least, is something she can claim complete expertise on. She'll let the adults make their own meal; it simply wouldn't do for a stray bone to choke one of the kittens. ]

I had never met a lion before Shishi. [ He will absolutely get a fond scratch. She's content to admire the babies: new parents are rightfully protective. ] They are very handsome animals. You bred them before?

[ Ninat follows inside, enormous tail dragging along, her body language not shy but certainly unassuming. Her attention is on the cubs, utterly fascinated. Did these hatch from eggs??? ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh trusts Kida and thus trusts Ninat by default, that she will not bring harm to any of the cubs. They mewl and chuff and eagerly bump into one another, trying to get at the best scraps. Shishi and Seshat look on and await their turn, apparently well-fed or else benevolent to their children.

They're in private, so Gilgamesh sees this as more of an excuse than ever to look even prouder than ever.]

Indeed! They were a common sight around the palace, a symbol of my station. They were loved and feared, same as myself.

[adlantisag]

[ She wouldn't be so puffed up to say she was feared, but then, fear is an excellent tool in a ruler's arsenal. She doesn't say so outright, but she finds it entertaining to see him so puffed up. ]

Why lions and not--[ what were those animals so prized in Chantes? the ones Sieglinde said there were many of on the surface? ]--horses?

[ Ninat watches the little ones masticate the thick flesh for some time before leaning in and chomping down on some tuna. Up and down her jaw flexes, not really chewing so much as pulverizing the meat.

She then pukes it up all over the floor. Perfect for babies!

Kida makes a face. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh also makes a face. The cubs love it, of course, but really, all over his floor... had he not known Kida better, he would've promptly scolded her for dragging such a sloppy animal into his quarters. Alas, what a man must suffer to impress a woman.]

Horses are far too mundane for the likes of a legend. I'm spoken of in whispers; who would ever revere the King's horse?

[Well, some things would never change. That enormous ego being one of them.]

[adlantisag]

[ Ninat is not a sloppy animal! She was being an excellent auntie, thank you.

Kida laughs. ]

Your arrogance truly has no end, Gilgamesh. [ She has to grudgingly admit to admiring that quality--to know the weight of one's legacy, to create it in every gesture, every word, every step. ]

We did not keep companions like these in Atlantis. There are animals, of course, but--food is scarce, so all animals must earn their keep.

[babbylon]

If it did, I would not be so called Gilgamesh!

[And he laughs and laughs too, which suggests yes, he's very much in on the joke, very much aware he's flaunting his ego about. It's better than the alternative, careless words and thoughtless actions, and suggests he's become more comfortable around her as well.]

It must have been quite lonely, then. In your culture, people are all well and good, but to be without such companions...

[Gilgamesh leans down to brush at one of the cubs' necks. It promptly squeals and rolls back towards him, prompting another chuckle.]

To be without one who would love and adore you unconditionally... what a dreary existence.