[open] lookin' for the love getaway.

[babbylon]

Who: Gilgamesh and everyone visiting Heaven's Feel!
When: 5/1—5/8
Where: Caissa, Heaven's Feel storefront
What: The grand opening of Heaven's Feel, Caissa's premier matchmaking service, has arrived! Stop by for food, drinks, and some friendly fun with your fellow Heroes! ...or maybe even pick up a date, who knows.
Rating: General audiences, except for Gil's threads because he was pretty much making out with everyone. Tread carefully.

Heaven's Feel



[Maybe you've heard, or maybe you haven't, but there's a new business in town. It's plastered everywhere, posted on the side of every building and shouted from the end of every street corner in Caissa. Heaven's Feel, Heaven's Feel, come fly with the angels at Heaven's Feel! Really, who writes something so cheesy? The owner must be a real piece of work, you think, yet there's something enticing about the sound of it...

If you do decide to stop by within the first week of May, you'll find a massive celebration awaiting you: the celebration of opening day! Eager workers wave down anyone who gets close, with offers of wine tasting, sweet treats, and even speed dating. The store's interior bustles with activity as visitors fill out cute little survey cards in hopes of a hook-up. The owner in question can be found mingling in the crowd, bartending, and drawing charcoal caricatures of couples for a nominal fee.

Overall, the atmosphere is one of excitement. Hop right in! There's plenty of room for lounging on the cushy furniture, and plenty of time to find your own hottie.

...or perfectly platonic friend. Look, we're not judging or anything.]

Comments

[babbylon]

[And, as ever, Saber manages to throw him off.

Alternate persona? But Gilgamesh can't even imagine such a thing; he's only ever been one person, one man, one King above them all. His eyebrows furrows and he kind of stumbles his way through pieces of a few responses before settling on something. Which still sounds baffled, but hey, he's confused by her confusion!]

Do you truly find it that distressing?

[...wait, was she thinking in the mindset of that Gilgamesh from her world? That would explain it. That would explain a lot, actually.]

Ah, I am a bit different at play, I suppose. I've no war to win, no throne to rule, and no station to oversee, so all that's left to me is pleasure.

[armorial]

That isn't what I--[ Gilgamesh. Her eyebrows furrow as well, not sure of what to make of this situation at all. Then again, this isn't the first time she is misunderstood. It's simply that she hasn't seen him like this before--something different from that on the stage, from at home, and when he started crying over rats. In due time, this will all settle. ] Pay no heed. It is... not completely distressing.

[ Only mildly. Otherwise, uhm... Composure. ] Your business is off to a strong start.

[babbylon]

[Oh, compliments! Gilgamesh can handle those well enough. He preens the first chance he gets, bouncing on the back of his heels and grinning wide, especially pleased to hear it from Saber's mouth. It almost feels like winning some invisible war he wasn't aware he was even waging, the war for Saber's tentative trust and good will.]

Isn't it wonderful? This world finally recognizes me as a Hero of grand standing! Even if my title's a bit... off...

[Queen, whoever decided on that? But at least he's still royalty. Ahem.]

In time, proud King, I am certain you will be recognized as well. The dungeons of this world should prove no challenge for you.

[Was that a... counter compliment? He tried.]

[armorial]

... Thank you. [ She's not sure how to reply to a compliment that isn't deplorable from the King of Heroes. It's a new feeling, but she isn't opposed to this kind of encounter. ]

Your title. [ She can only imagine which one is it by how he says it, but it doesn't take her long to deduce. It's on the same caliber? But it's only "a bit off"? If it didn't fit at all, she knows that he would say something far severe than "a bit off".

He is a king. Doe that mean he's a queen now? She hasn't exactly asked anyone of their ranks because it seems irrelevant for the most part, so she decides not to utter another word. Calling him... A queen sounds like a form of insolence. ]

Are you not King of Heroes capitalized? [ Maybe he meant his carrier ID???? It would be hard for her not to know that is Gilgamesh, but she looks dubious. That can't be it, but she's stumped. ]

[babbylon]

[Is this the real life? Is this a real conversation? Pleasantly chatting with Saber, and she even shows him gratitude... maybe she's not the only one struck by how bizarre this all is. However, Gilgamesh does weather it better, and chalks it up to his fantastic charm winning her over. Of course.

She asks over his title, and he cannot quite stifle a sigh. He supposes she was going to find this out sooner or later, and he may as well get it out of the way now. Reaching into his pocket, Gilgamesh flashes her a badge with a crown emblazoned on it—the clear symbol of a Queen.]

Go ahead and laugh. I'll allow it just this once; I found it nearly as much of a farce.

[Though he was getting used to it. Thinking aloud:]

However, by this world's standards, the rank of "King" doesn't suit me at all. Nor you, I would imagine.

[armorial]

[ She is just like this with most people that don't try to make her a possession, but okay it is totally Gilgamesh's charm. Totally. Anyway, she peers at the badge, familiar with this symbol without needing even an extra second. Looking back up at him, there is not even a hint of mirth; there's simply the same neutral expression.

It's not fitting by title. ]

While you are no queen, I wouldn't say it's laughing matter. [ Considering she's a pawn, this all sounds like chess to her now. ] The Queen is very powerful. In a way, it's flattering.

[ You're a diva, too, but you did not hear that from her. She understands the role king takes on the board, but she's not entirely sure what it means in this world. I mean, it doesn't move much... And stays in the back for the most part.

... She already does that now, to be honest. ] Is the rank lackluster?

[babbylon]

[He didn't really see it as such before, but Saber does have a point. What a shocker, Gilgamesh: you can sometimes learn great things from women by listening to them!]

Perhaps. Speaking of chess, the queen dominates the board, while the king must rely on others for support.

[Gilgamesh senses curiosity in her, and decides to be sparing and indulge. After all, they may very well wind up in a party together someday, and better she have accurate information at her fingertips than bumble around on the spot trying to make sense of things. Saber was sharp, despite less than stellar life choices, but precious little of heroic life was intuitive. She would struggle without appropriate guidance... so naturally Gilgamesh volunteers himself for the position.]

In Enprise, Kings are relegated to a healing role. They are a weak rank, physically, and perform poorly in melee.

[Thinking of Saber's "weapon", if it could even be called that, Gilgamesh shakes his head.]

No, if I must venture a guess... you are destined to become a Knight. That would be the proper way of things, at least.

[armorial]

[ She takes in what Gilgamesh says--it makes sense, even if it can be a lie. Even if it is, there's nothing to lose. Otherwise, she stays quiet as he continues to ponder on her future rank. There's no reply after, only an unsettling silence that's a trademark of hers. There's no change in her expression aside from a couple of blinks here and there. It's overall unreadable.

Of course, she is watching Gilgamesh rather intently and her attention doesn't stray. Not even a delicious treat nor some explosion behind them will break her out of this stare. ]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh was not a man easily deterred or bothered by the intensity of others. She stares at him; he stares back. It's a level sort of gaze, gauging, measuring. Vaguely, Gilgamesh wonders if this was how she behaved in court, debating over the various issues of the realm with her fellow Knights of the Round. He can see why they would be drawn to her, just from that powerful air alone. She commands absolute authority, all with a mere gaze.

Gilgamesh breaks the silence first, after a few moments, and is the first between them to soften up.]

I've spoken to a woman here, Caren Ortensia. It has henceforth come to my attention that our battle during the Fourth War was interrupted.

[Among other things. Absent other pieces that Saber currently has. But is now the right time to press...?]

In lieu of a rematch, which is not possible in all fairness with our true abilities taken from us, I propose that we train together once you are stronger. I am in need of a partner who will not hold back, and we would match each others' weaknesses well, as I've interest in strengthening my sword arm.

[...well, maybe he'll at least put forth the idea. See if she bites.]

It seems you knew a different Gilgamesh, who would make no such offer. The sort of cruelty he inflicted... only you could tell me for certain.

[armorial]

[ The silence was her trying to process all of this. She has been tolerating his presence for a good amount of times now, but the fact he's paying such attention to her is disturbing. She's deep in her thoughts, but quickly returns when the proposal is offered. Her eyes widen at the number of things that would need to be addressed, but it happens to be time...

She's not sure if it's worth discussing in detail during this big day for Heaven's Feel. ]

Caren comes from a strange time... [ Filled with anomalies and shit, but it's not the point. She looks away to gather up her thoughts. Once organized, she'll turn back to him with less uncertainty. ] You and him, while the same, are different.

I won't hold the decisions you will make in the future against you, Gilgamesh. [ It's not fair, she thinks. It's her conclusion, but it doesn't change the fact that she finds him creepy at times. All the time back at home, actually. ]

As for training, there are more benefits than drawbacks. [ While he isn't a swordsman, the man is skilled and it will keep her skills from rusting, even if she wants to say that isn't possible. She doesn't trust him, but this is a great opportunity and there's not much at stake aside from her sanity. ] I will accept your offer.

[babbylon]

[He's expecting an argument. A fight. Disagreement, of some kind. Accusations. You became a monster, you did the worst sorts of things, I could never join myself with you. He could picture such words from the mouth of the Saber he knew, bloody and speared through the leg on account of his own violence. He could see it. He could grasp it, unlike so much of everything else that's transpired here.

But he hears something different. Hears... understanding, so rarely shown to him by anyone else, from someone he never would've thought might extend it to him. Of course, he doesn't need it. She's right. Regardless of his behavior in the future, he was the same person. He refused to believe he fell into madness, that he acted without just cause. If he unleashed wickedness upon the world, surely there was reason for it.

A reason like his growing hatred for humanity, nursed throughout their war. But for the moment, the truth of it remains beyond him. Saber spares him, and he heeds it.]

It was...

[Gilgamesh grapples, visibly. Like her, he's still trying to reconcile her status as former enemy with current and future ally. Words that were once venomous are now quiet.]

Thoughtful of you to come today. What we once were, we may never be again, but what we stand to become—I look forward to it.

[Gilgamesh calls one of his staff over. Gilgamesh takes the plate from their hands, a plate full of sugar dumplings, and offers it to Saber. This, more than their hasty pact forged in the basement and upon the tower, seems to be a true offering of peace. ...and, well, he does know something about her nature: easily hungry.]

Hail, King of Knights, Artoria Pendragon. May her glory be known in this world as any other.

[armorial]

[ She has grown rather tame in certain aspects and learned lessons during the next Grail war, really. Even if Gilgamesh will commit many atrocities and puppeteer a sinister plot from what she remembers, he is not the same as the man in front of her. It's a verdict she would want herself if she was in the same position. To be judged for what you might or might not do weighs heavy on someone's mind, after all. As a king and a knight, she believes she can only pass judgment on what one does in the present.

Not many of her decisions are shaky, but this leaves her with some doubts. This man has the toxic potential that can ruin the lives of many, a drive that she's familiar with, but it's put to a different goal. Even if he's tolerable here, she's still not fond of him due to his actions during the war they both remember. However, she can set personal vendetta aside for the greater good.

She doesn't have plans on becoming a close ally nor becoming fond of him. This will be a professional acquaintanceship where he offers her food, she takes it, they train, they fight alongside each other, and that's it. Squinting at him, she can still hold some grudges. ]

You give me too much credit. I came not for you, but to see the nature of your business. [ There's a small vehement huff. It's part of her silent investigation that would deem him dangerous or harmless. Don't talk to her like they hold anything more than what they were and are. Perhaps she may have been too kind, so she'll slip a warning to clarify. ] If you ever step out of line, we will be on different sides once more.

... I'm not one for offerings. [ She says as she takes a dumpling and eats it. ]

[babbylon]

But you are one for sweets.

[Strike one.]

And for food.

[Strike two.]

And since I am offering them in all my generosity and my benevolence, you are naturally attracted to my presence. As well you should be, as you may have failed to understand before but I am most willing to educate you now, I am no mere Servant but a true King of Kings, and therefore it is only right and just you would find yourself enamored, for though we cannot become once were, we may become even greater, and I would show you the true glory of Gilgamesh, in all my...

[Strike three. He's outta there! But it wasn't so bad while it lasted, was it? Maybe there really is more to this man than meets the eye. Maybe. Possibly. Just not right now.]