futurology | video; un: king

[Although the video is intentional, King clearly doesn't have much experience with a camera, let alone one contained in a pinkie ring. The video tops out at King's nose and is mostly taken up by his uniform. Behind him are the familiar halls that house everyone's rooms. As he floats down the halls like it's the normal thing to do, he addresses his audience.]

The dungeons... were where new arrivals found themselves during the exam. Including me. [A short pause, punctuated by King's frown.] Has anyone else been down there since the exam ended? I've been trying to memorize as much of the layout of Oska as I can; I don't want to be surprised like that again. But there's one room in the dungeons that doesn't make sense. Even beyond everything else.

[He sighs as he turns a corner, approaching the door to his own room. The video adjusts somewhat, revealing perplexed eyes.]

It's full of nothing but mirrors that don't reflect what's in front of them. They reflect just about everything else though. I swear I even saw... [King shakes his head.] If anyone has knowledge regarding this room, I'd like to hear it.

Honestly, an entire room filled with so much of the same thing... What's the point? It's like someone's trying to create a bad atmosphere.

[By now, King's pushing open the door to his temporary living quarters. Only, what greets him isn't the same old decor as everyone else's rooms. It's a room filled to the brim with cushions. Stacks upon stacks upon stacks of cushions. Just cushions. Nothing useful, nothing helpful, nothing of any material value. Just cushions... and Ban.

King's already troubled expression turns ice cold. Ban just waves drunkenly.

Before the obvious culprit can open his mouth, the view of the camera shifts, and a sudden arm movement leaves the screen blurry. When the view steadies itself, it's just in time for everyone watching to witness an ornate spear fly straight through Ban's chest. Blood splatters, but King's already returned his attention to the video.]

That's all I wanted to know.

[As King fiddles with the ring in an attempt to end this lovely discourse, one last grumble can be heard. But this time, it's Ban's voice.]

Is that any way to greet a comrade? You're gonna get bloooood~ on the cushions!

I don't care. I'm not the one who's gonna clean this up.

[Click.]

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[That's all it takes. Three desolate sentences out of Ban's mouth, and King's blood runs cold.

To revive Elaine had never even been on King's radar. He'd given up, could only wait for a revenge that Elaine ultimately took from him anyway. Ban was the one. Ban was the one who refused to let even death take Elaine away from him. He made her happy, protected her body, nourished the forest - did everything King couldn't - all for her. How long had he been harboring the thought of bringing Elaine back to life? King didn't know, but he did know how much Ban was willing to sacrifice in order to get his wish.

For Ban to say something like that with a smile on his face... There's something innately wrong with it, just as wrong as Diane being on her own.]

ALASTAIR told you...?

Figure it isn't impossible~. [Ban commented, giving King a shrug. If it were a mystery he couldn't solve, then Ban would still try. The core of the matter lay in Ban's odds. If they said it was impossible, then Ban would have doubted them. He knew that he would try anything to revive Elaine, but they didn't dispel that information.

No, they simply said it wasn't fate. Ban wouldn't be able to revive her. It was simply something he wouldn't be able to accomplish. It was a declaration of his ultimate failure.

Had it impossible, he would have brushed it off. It meant that, no matter what he did, ALASTAIR didn't think he could do it. Ban lacked Meliodas' positive attitude. He didn't feel hope in terrifying situations. He was taught by experience that he was a failure to begin with. His smile was self-assurance that he understood the 'why'. As usual, it was his own fault.]

But, it sounds like they know I won't be able to do it; no matter whaaaat I sacrifice.

[Can Ban bring her back? That's something King's never been sure of either, but his eyes once again narrow as he comes to a somewhat surprising conclusion. He trusts Ban infinitely more than ALASTAIR.]

To me, it sounds more like they're the ones who can't do it.

[There was an imperceptible shrug about Ban's shoulders as King cut to the chase.

He didn't think much on it. Ban did his best to avoid thinking when he could. The presence of alcohol in him made his life easier. He didn't have to worry about the shamefulness that came with his own form of impotence with the sensation of inebriation. Drunk as he was, Ban didn't think about his constant failures.]

Doesn't mean much to me. They know I'll do anything to bring her back. If it means...

[Ban didn't bother to elaborate.]

And, it doesn't matter. Those guys already know the future. They've got to.

[King's fists tighten at his sides. Of course, Ban doesn't like thinking about these things. King doesn't either. He can understand that in a grudging way. But for Ban to say that it doesn't matter? That pisses him off.

His expression contorts into a snarl.]

Obviously, it matters to you. If you ever say it doesn't again, I'll do worse than just kill you.

If this is the sort of thing you were thinking about, it's no wonder you refused to go back to the Sins with me.

[Ban said and did things he regretted all the time. It was no surprise that admitting his own failure hurt just as much as the other terrible things, but he hadn't exactly known why it hurt that badly.

Then, he figured it out. Ban gave King an arch look, remembering their personal dynamic. King was the one who fought against Ban's excitement and cruelty. He was kind and reasonable.

Alongside them was Meliodas. Instead of admonishing him for his unreasonable attitudes, Meliodas would always try to be nice when he was drunk and obsessing over Elaine. He enabled his excitement and praised him on his successes.

King was disappointed in him for good reason, but he knew--Meliodas wouldn't care. He'd forgive him for betraying him and even for failing Elaine. The whole time, Meliodas would just want to cheer him up.

So, Ban smiled, full of hate.]

That'd be better--if we fought. I don't think I could take the alternative~. [Forgiveness.]

I never said anything about fighting.

[King would love to skewer Ban again. And again and again and again. But doing that wouldn't make him feel any better. It would only make Ban feel better, and that is not King's goal right now. He grinds his teeth, just about ready to walk out the door and leave Ban to his cushions.]

Elaine asked me to help you. I'll do it, even if I have to petrify you at the bottom of the lake just to keep you from screwing up.

[Ban gave pause. Elaine asked King to help him? There was only one time she could have asked him to do something like that. The City of the Dead.

It must have been the reason why King stopped being so angry at him, after that. Sure, he killed him left and right, but that was just venting. In the end, King behaved and treated him with a modicum of respect.

That was the problem, though.]

She loves me. Of course she'd ask you to do something stupid like that.

[Ban looked away, towards the door. His whole life he was taught a horrible, repetitive and unending lesson.]

Do you think I deserve it? Help?

What I think doesn't matter. I wouldn't be doing it for you or me.

[His answer is sharp, tactless, the usual for interaction between Sloth and Greed. The painful truth of the matter, what he doesn't say, is that the answer is yes. Yes, King does believe Ban deserves help. He's a bastard through and through, but after everything he's done for Elaine... He at least deserves help. If Jericho isn't here to follow Ban around like a puppy, King might have to fall back into old habits.]

[Ban looked from King at once--right back down the hall. He didn't say anything else.

His hand reached over and with a deafening groan, Ban tore open a wall that left them to the open air. He stepped through, not making any further motions to make a point.

Even if King told him otherwise, he knew he didn't deserve it. Years of education told him what was the truth.]

[King doesn't follow, spending the next minute or so just staring at the hole Ban had made upon his escape. An escape is what it was too; King wouldn't let Ban try to dress it up as anything else later on.

It's not until Ban is completely gone that he realizes he's been left to clean up the entire mess on his own.]

video; un: king

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