futurology | video; [KINGOFHEROES]

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video; [KINGOFHEROES]

Hi, everybody!

[A bright and jubilant face awaits you all on the network today. While some features of it may yet prove familiar—that golden hair, those red eyes, snowy white skin—others may not, such as that radiant smile. This is indeed Gilgamesh, looking about 5,000 years younger, and he's very happy to see you! He appears to be sitting on a mountain of Stuff in his room, that stuff being various things he's yanked out of the Gate. Looks like someone's attempted to do some spring cleaning.

Judging from the mess he's made, though, the degree of success he's had may be slightly questionable.]

It sure is exciting around here, huh? We're going to a new planet really soon, and I don't know about you, but I haven't visited too many of those. Guess that makes us real explorers now! Pioneers, even, like in the movies! I always wanted to visit space, see the stars, meet a few aliens...

[Gil dangles his little legs over the side of his bed, humming cheerily.]

What kind of planets have you been to? I mean, if you've been to any. Even talking about your home world would be fine! Me, I'm from Earth.

[Which wasn't too exciting, in his view, and by his guess most everyone was familiar with it already. Anyway, he should probably wrap this up, so—]

I'm looking forward to working with everyone for our super secret mission! Let's have fun and try really hard, okay?~♪ Bye-bye!

[A spirited wave, and... oh! He even blew a kiss. How cute.]

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Shishi is my friend, so that makes sense.

[Something his older self would never say, but thankfully Alayne won't have to deal with him for quite some time yet. Gil gestures to a jewelry chest near his feet, full of all sorts of precious gems, bracelets, necklaces, and assorted accessories. He does so casually, but in truth these items were worth millions of dollars.]

Let's sort those. Gold and silver, rubies and sapphires, diamonds and pearls. Each gets their own pile.

[He may be subtly spoiling her by letting her sift through them. To his knowledge, every woman loved fancy things.]

Both he and you are blessed to have one another. (She is reminded of Bran suddenly - perhaps the way Gil speaks with such certainty triggers those memories. Without thinking, she reaches out and smoothes over Gil's golden hair, her gaze distant and sad.) Do not take him for granted.

(Her hand drops away and she arches a brow at the treasure.)

I am no thief, but do you truly trust me with these...?

[Gil, being a tactile creature, giggles and leans into her touch with a joyous smile. He even takes her hand without thinking, squeezing around it with his tiny fingers. But despite the fact they are so small, she will find he did not lie—they are somehow very strong all at once.]

Sure, why wouldn't I? I guess you could steal something, but I have so much of it I probably wouldn't even notice it was missing.

[He just sort of shrugs at the idea, as if to say who cares?]

I'll tell you what, though. If you do a really good job, I'll give you one of my treasures.

(A helpless smile tugs at her lips and she squeezes his hand back. Oh what she would give to see Bran again - to know he is alive for herself. She has heard rumors that he escaped Winterfell's slaughter - led by one she used to call brother no less - yet rumors are cold; bodies are warm.

Gil is warm. She likes to see him smile.)

I wouldn't steal. Honor might be forgotten in many worlds, but it is not forgotten by me.

(He might not care; she can't help but care about such matters.)

Your friendship, then. That is treasure enough. (Oh she loves jewels; she loves new dresses and hairstyles, however there are far more precious treasures. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds cannot protect someone; they cannot give them comfort in the dark.)

Nope. I insist.

[And that's that. Gil, at least, shared the stubbornness of his older self; when he decided on something, it was final, leaving no room for arguments. And he has decided on a very special treasure for Alayne, which he's already hunting for unseen in the many, many chambers of his Gate.

For now, she'll have quite a project on her hands. That's a lot of treasure.]

You can hang some stuff on Shishi if you want. I'm sure he won't mind.

[Shishi seems to grumble a little... it may be the case this lion loved everyone but its master.]

(Arguing will likely only lead them in circles. Instead, she chooses to be grateful, kneeling down before the treasure.)

So be it; I thank you in advance. (Shishi is given another pet.) Sapphires and diamonds would suit him, though he probably thinks humans silly for putting such stock in pretty stones.

(Delicately, she separates the gems, finding the activity calming. It is less complicated than embroidery, but each gem - each piece of jewelry - is unique. Each has its own charm. They deserve to be untangled and separated so they can be enjoyed.)

[Shishi loves pets! He flops over and, unfortunately may make her job a little more difficult as he's now actively bidding for her attention and poking his big nose into things. But if this is the worst worry she has, maybe things are looking up for the lonely bastard far from home.]

It is strange, isn't it? The value we place on such tiny trinkets. Someone's life could be worth less than these.

[And often was, in his culture. Human beings traded for handfuls of gold.]

When I was King, I always tried to be as fair as I could, but... it's not so easy.

(Who can possibly be upset at such a sweet lion? Alayne strokes over his fluffy head and compliments him in a soft voice. Her lap is open for him to rest his head; she won't push him away.)

That is sad, isn't it? (Her father had been beheaded before her eyes thanks to politics - the same held true for Robb and her mother. At least gems and gold are tangible reasons!)

I do not think being a King or Queen is ever an easy job. You can only do your best and try to understand what all of your people feel - from the lowliest to the richest.

[Gil sorts as he chats, too, not wanting to place too much of the burden on her. He does so with easy flourishes of levitation magic, sending objects flying everywhere.]

You seem like a kind person. Unfortunately, I can't say kindness makes for good Kings or Queens.

[A lot of the time the job involved quite the opposite. Making tough decisions, sending your own subjects to their own deaths, or off to fight in wars where they'd find the same. Ruling in favor of some and against others. Trying to balance the scales as best you could, and failing every time.

But Gil had tried, at least in his youth, and that likely placed him better off than some of the Westerosi lords she knew.]

So I have been told. (Countless times by Joffrey and Cersei as they ruined her image and had her beaten by "knights" before the court. Her lips tighten and there is anger in her eyes, the blue darkening momentarily.)

Once I dreamed of being a queen. What a foolish wish. (Her words are biting and bitter. She shakes herself free of the emotion and continues:) I thought of becoming a Septa too. They are the leaders of the main faith in Westeros.

[The emotion may have been fleeting, but Gil caught it all the same. It was too intense a slip not to. Gil frowns, wonders if he should pry; they've only just met, after all, and she probably wouldn't be comfortable delving into sensitive subjects. He couldn't blame her for it, either.

Shishi seems to notice something amiss, too, and snuggles closer to Alayne to soothe her.]

Dreams are nice while they last. But every dreamer has to awaken eventually.

[A small nugget of wisdom from one seemingly too small to divvy it out, and yet he does so freely and easily.]

You don't want to be a Queen, anyway. I bet there's bigger plans for you.

(At times like this, Alayne and Sansa become far too close for her comfort. She swallows her anger, her pain and her desire for revenge, reprimanding herself mentally.

Alayne was never beaten. She was raised in the East; a comfortable life of a noble. Her father is alive. She has family.

The lion's comfort helps her to refocus and she wraps an arm around him, resting her cheek against his head briefly.)

Stories are not reality; tales rarely come true. I was naive.

(She had been far too protected ~~in wintry Winterfell~~in the hot East.)

I shall marry a Lord eventually, I expect. One who will inherit the Eyrie. I will be a wife and then a mother. What more is expected of a woman?

(Notice that she never speaks of love; of passion.)

Well, happiness, of course.

[This too Gil gives to her. Without strings, without expectations. He just lets her have it.]

The way you're talking... it's like you're more of an object, or a prize. It's fine to aspire to those things, but you can also be more than those things. You can live your own life, with your own ambitions, and stand strong, with or without a husband.

[In Sumeria, women had plenty of power in their own right. They ran establishments, handled households, managed finances, and more. Even if they ultimately deferred to their husbands, they could rise fairly high in society, and certainly pursue their own desires. To say something like what more is expected hints at more of a caged existence than anything, and who would ever want to live in a cage? Who would ever clip their own wings just so someone else could marvel at them like a pretty thing?

None would by choice, he reasons.]

(None would by choice is correct. She has been trapped in a cage since she first stepped foot into King's Landing. Petyr Baelish had freed her from one prison to lock her in another. As the last eldest - legitimate - Stark, Winterfell is hers. He wishes to unite the Eyrie and Winterfell through her marriage.

She does not even know Harrold Hardyng, though he is her likely - newest - husband.)

My circumstances are...complicated. (Her hand shakes and she fists it into her skirt.) Forgive me for being depressing. Here I am surrounded by lovely things and wonderful company and all I can do is mourn the past.

(And the probable future should she return.)

Here I have infinite freedom. I do not know what to do with it.

Edited 2016-07-02 07:23 (UTC)

No, it's... my fault. I said that stuff without thinking.

[Without realizing it couldn't be that easy for everyone. Gil was royalty, and had been given everything he ever wanted, but not all led such a pampered life. And he could understand their hardships. He could empathize with suffering. And this woman, undoubtedly...

She must've suffered. It makes him sad to think about.]

But you can't just throw parts of yourself away to please other people, besides. Putting on a happy face when you're not happy, trying to smile when all you wanna do is cry... that won't do you any good, either. It'd be hard to pretend like that, all the time. Next to impossible, even.

[Sadder still he'd say those things and fail to grasp the irony of his own situation. They've only just met, but he knows he'd rather she smiled than make such angry fists.]

So you don't ever have to pretend with me, and I won't ever pretend with you. That'll be our freedom, just you and me.

Please do not blame yourself. (He has been kind, welcoming and - well - she expects he has his own problems. She is well-versed in putting on a brave face and smiling when all she wants to do is scream and cry. She wonders if his cheerfulness is a cover too.

Is he lonely too?) When the time is right, I will remember who I used to be. For now, I must stay as I am.

(Slowly but surely, she is realizing that, despite all of Alayne's positive qualities, Sansa is stronger. Infinitely so. But being Sansa Stark again is...

Terrifying.)

I...will tell you. In time.

[Gil shakes his head, reassures her softly:]

You don't have to tell me a single thing.

[But yes, he's lonely. He's always been lonely, as the strange child of the gods who wasn't quite human and wasn't quite divine, caught somewhere in between. Beloved by all, but understood by none, he followed a path of alienation to eventual insanity. No, the tale of Gilgamesh did not end well at all. Not for anyone involved.]

Just be you—the you you're comfortable with—and we'll call it even.

[Maybe I'll tell you in time, too.]

(She bites her lip and breathes deep, finding her courage. It's the same courage - fierce and bold - that nearly had her pushing Joffrey to his death, yet, towards Gil, it is softer - less combative.)

I cannot run from the past - no matter how tempting. I must face it. I'm just...not ready.

(With a small smile, she chooses a necklace with gems the same color as Gil's eyes. Gently, she slips it over his head.)

As long as you do likewise, Your Majesty.

[Gil nearly lets slip that he's not ready to face his future in much the same way, but thinks it best to let the subject pass for now. Delighting in the attention, Gil in turn reaches for a beautiful tiara and leans up to set it upon Alayne's head. It's followed by a polite dip of his own.]

You don't have to be a queen, but just for now, you can be a princess.

[All of the royalty, none of the responsibility. What's not to like?]

And whenever you're in this room, you can dream as much as you want, and no one will stop you.

(They will find the courage. She senses that it is only a matter of time for her: she just needs a respite for a little longer. Alayne Stone is her shelter; an identity she can use to breathe and heal from her years in King's Landing. Gil is much stronger than her - a bright soul who can overcome. She believes he will conquer his demons.

The tiara makes her smile and she touches it lightly, making sure it is secure.)

Do you know how to dance?

(Dancing is one of the best parts of being royalty! What could be more dreamy and romantic?)

My quarters and belongings are far more humble than yours, however if you need a haven, they are open to you.

(It might not be proper, but he is young (even at 5,000). How often has her cousin, little Lord Robert, climbed into bed with her for comfort? Too many to count.)

Only if my lady knows how to lead.

[He'd offered a fantasy, so he's feeding into it as much as possible. Giving her as much authority and agency as possible, as she'd been denied in the past. Gil was not a greedy spirit, at least not in this form; despite his own words, he'd bend over backwards to please others, because it was simply in his nature to do so.

Spinning to his feet, Gil shows off a little more of his power and magically changes his attire to a snappy suit and tie. A princess deserved a proper prince, after all.]

I'm sure I can find suitable music around here somewhere... is there a certain kind you like?

[Little does he know genres weren't really a big thing in Westeros. At least he's not about to bust out the Rains of Castamere because of it.]

I would be happy to. (She rises and smoothes out non-existent wrinkles from her skirt. The magic he uses amazes her - and frightens her - yet she stands her ground and dips her head, admiring his suit.)

You are quite handsome. (The question has her pause and consider.) Music is a rarity. I suppose anything is fitting as long as it is not bawdy in nature.

(There are far too many bawdy songs in Westeros.)

[Even in a diminutive form, Gil was certainly frightening. The sort of power he wielded, and wielded with a mere flicker of his hand, could level a city, a nation, a world. Even the might of dragons could not threaten him. And yet he seemed just a boy, just an ordinary person—unless you stared into those red, red eyes of his for too long. The truth was far more terrifying than that, doomed to awaken soon enough.

But for now, they wear their false guises with each other and make believe there is not great hurt in their hearts. A few moments later, an old-fashioned record player falls from a golden portal above their heads, settling on the dresser. A slow-moving song begins to play.

Gil presents himself to Alayne, and curtsies, as the "lady" of their pair.]

Any beauty of mine pales before present company.

[...and so well-rehearsed, too. A suit for a gentleman, and a gentleman for a suit.]

(Magic in general makes her uneasy. Goosebumps rise on her skin each time she witnesses something "unnatural". However she is adapting as best as she can - and it helps that those who are powerful are also kind. ~~Though she has no idea as to Gil's full power. That knowledge would be enough to scare her off for good.~~

Her breath hitches when she sees the record player. How can such things exist?)

We must rely on Bards! If we had such a machine... (Traveling bards would be out of business.

She holds back a giggle at his curtsy, giving him a bow in return. Then she guides him on where to place his hands and how they should move together.)

If you are too charming, you will have far too many ladies vying to be your queen.

If you had machines like mine, Alayne, you'd have no trouble at all.

[And that's no lie. Gil could storm Westeros and win it in a day; he could wipe out everyone who ever hurt her and everyone who ever would. Westeros has never seen something so strong as a Servant before, and likely never even could. Perhaps that is why the fates have kept him out of there for now.

Gil falls into easy step with Alayne, and in a sense her leading is better with their height difference. Even so, he keeps up surprisingly well. As an Archer, he's dexterous as could be, and his feet never fumble over hers even once. He looks at her with that everlasting smile, and just laughs at the idea of a queen.]

I had lots of pretty girls after me, it's true. But that didn't matter.

[Gil puffs out his little chest with pride.]

I wanted to be on my own, so I was. The adventurous hero-king, Gilgamesh! That's me.

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video; [KINGOFHEROES]

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