[closed] I want, I want, I want...

[babbylon]

Who: Gilgamesh and Hakuno
When: Shortly before the dungeon.
Where: Caissa
What: Master and Servant go on their very first date together! Hopefully it's not a complete disaster...
Rating: Probably general audiences nah it's pretty PG-13 after that boobgrab.

[Dates weren't exactly an everyday occurrence for Gilgamesh—at least not planned ones, his outings as King were far more demanding and, uh, compulsory—but he's fallen into stride with them easily enough here. He actually didn't have any swimwear prior to Hakuno's suggestion of a pool, so he's picked up a simple pair of patterned golden shorts and matching sandals for that very purpose before heading out to meet her by her door.

Of course, that's all he's wearing by the time he arrives, but it's nothing she hasn't seen in the past. He greets her with a friendly wave and a big grin, and if there's any sign of tension from their previous conversation, as always it has all but evaporated.]

There you are, girl! I presume you almost ready for our grand undertaking?

[...never mind it being a date. Now it's a grand undertaking.]

Comments

[sealeted]

Mm. I couldn't call this place home if it didn't have you here, I don't think.

[She's still not sure that she understands 'home,' as they've discussed, but there are some aspects she's pretty sure are nonnegotiable.]

[babbylon]

I am uncertain if it is home.

[Gilgamesh drifted further and further everyday from the anchor of his duties, but even so, Earth was his garden. It's difficult to just forget, just because something brand new had come along and given him so much he'd never had before. Still...]

But as you said, this is enough for me—as much as I can ever have enough.

[sealeted]

No, neither am I. But it could be, and I'm not going to dismiss the possibility out of hand.

[She kicks her feet idly in the water.]

Enough for now, at least.

[babbylon]

[His feet join hers in doing so. Really, she's such a small creature beside himself, it's hard to imagine her ever holding his reins.]

...you are happy, then?

[sealeted]

Yeah.

[She tilts her head back, glancing up at him.]

Right now, I'm very happy. Thank you for inviting me out today.

[babbylon]

Then I am also pleased.

[It would've been an even better date if he could impress her with his Gate... but apparently even simple indulgences will do just fine.]

[sealeted]

Good.

[Well, Hakuno isn't a woman of extravagant tastes. And, she's already had a front row seat to his Gate and extravagance.]

So, where did you want to eat after we finish up here?

[babbylon]

Cake! I wish to dine on cake!

[Gilgamesh, that's not a meal, that's a dessert.]

And truffles! And tarts! And especially macarons! So flavorful... so delicious... only sweets are fit for the palette of a King!

[sealeted]

Sweets?

[Well, Hakuno has had worse meals, and if that's what he wants she can stop by a real food stall after the date.]

Well, that sounds good to me. What cafes do you recommend?

[babbylon]

[Heaven's Feel was too obvious a suggestion, and he'd just get mobbed the instant he showed his face there. Not that he ordinarily minded, but on occasion Gilgamesh can be cognizant of his company, so better they pick someplace they won't be as recognizable.]

I am partial to Café Roi, naturally.

[No points for guessing why.]

I believe it is a block or so from our current location. They should have something suited to your tastes.

[sealeted]

That seems like a safe enough bet. I love sweets.

[Candy the most, but she's had quite a few new runners up grace her palate since coming here. She's even learned to make some herself, though he certainly has no way of knowing. It's not like she sent him an edible apology gift at some point, after all.

That would be crazy.]

Did you want to go down a few more times?

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh shakes his head.]

Swim with me, instead.

[Setting aside their beverages, Gilgamesh guides Hakuno into the water. It's more purposeful, this time, less playful. He starts on a lap around the rim, but he's in no rush to pull ahead. He's waiting for her specifically, so that they might do so together—as partners, as a team. A means of strengthening the bond.]

[sealeted]

Okay.

[Her technique is, in a word, textbook. It isn't mechanical, per se, but there is a brief lag as she reconciles the basic pace her body wants to use with one a little closer to his. A happy medium, so to speak, rather than letting auto-pilot take over. Even if he's willing to wait, she still wants to put forth effort of her own.

Besides, there should be some merits to training all the time, even if most of that training was on dry land.]

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh guides her to the deeper end of the pool, away from most of the others. He parks her in the middle and begins to circle around in broad, assessing strokes. Sometimes his gestures can prove a little puzzling, but it's hard to deny what's going on here. That she's being courted, like a mate with its fellow, trying to impress.

Kings of Gilgamesh's stature have a few too many problems expressing themselves, so in place of words which she'd only misunderstand he gives her this. She'll feel like an underwater princess, just for a short while. Occasionally he moves in for a touch or a brush to her shoulder, or a cheek, but otherwise it's just Gilgamesh putting on a one man play for her benefit.

He is very handsome. When he wants to be. When he isn't busy being incredibly terrible.]

[sealeted]

[She can't say that she fully understands this sudden performance. She can read into it enough to see that it's supposed to be a treat for her. She was the target of... well, of a literal animal mating dance not too long ago, so she does see the resemblance, but she tells herself that no matter how much he resembles that phoenix-Carrier right now, the intentions are different.

But the effort, and the attention... it's nice.

She's more than content to watch him. He can be terrible and tiresome, but when he's good he's good, she can give him that much.]

[babbylon]

[Regardless, Gilgamesh emerges with her after a minute or so of this. He's uncharacteristically quiet, staring in that faraway sort of manner he often falls back on. On certain occasions, he's young and energetic, but at others he looks very much his age. Ancient and distant in such a way that no one ever could hope to reach.

He gathers his things and glances back at her, over his shoulder. Unintentionally it seems a little shy, but of course that couldn't be the case with a man like Gilgamesh... could it? At any rate, he's goading her once again.]

Let us be on our way. The longer we wait, the staler those sweets become!

[sealeted]

[Hakuno's specialty is striving for the impossible. Perhaps that's why she slips over to him, her cheek brushing against that golden lion once again, the subtlest of reciprocations to his previous display of... affection? Regard? She isn't quite sure, but there's a heavy sort of gravitas lingering in the air as she pulls away to get her own bag and sandals.

She waits until he chooses to break it, and then seamlessly falls into line with the tone he sets.]

As if you'd let them serve you anything but the best.

[babbylon]

[Arching a skeptical brow as he heads for the entrance.]

You know me almost a bit too well, girl. I may have to silence you someday.

[sealeted]

Why?

[Hakuno cocks her head to one side, eyebrows raised.]

That's not even a difficult thing to know about you. Random people off the street probably know you have exacting standards.

[babbylon]

Still...

[...

...

...]

Am I truly so predictable? Of course, the glory of the King should be obvious, but everything else, too?! Surely there's some secret I kept hidden from you! Surely there's some side you have not yet seen, some mysteries left unsolved! If it is all known already, then it becomes boring! How dreadful!

[sealeted]

[Is...


Is he...?]

...Gilgamesh, are you worried the spark has gone out of our relationship?

[Her shoulders heave once, silently, but she doesn't dare truly laugh at him.]

First of all, I was your Master, not your woman. Second of all... Of course there are sides of you I haven't seen. Maybe I've glimpsed them, but it's more like... I skimmed a lot of surfaces, and only delved deep in a few places. Every time we talk, I get to learn something new about you. This place... It's so different from the Moon Cell, in so many ways. So, I get to see you focused on different goals. I get to see you talk about your hobbies at length. I get to... to go out for a day at the pool with you, of all things.

[She does laugh now, but it's a shy, sweet thing.]

I may not necessarily be phased by what you do or say most of the time, but that doesn't mean I'm omnipotent. You do surprise me. I'm just... I survived a lot. Part of what helped me do that is the fact that I'm good at rolling with the punches, so to speak.

[babbylon]

I am an undying spark of brilliance and ingenuity!!

[So there. Ahem. But dammit, now she's being cute, and it's got him all huffy.]

W-well, good, then! Certainly our outings should not be viewed as a chore, or otherwise burdensome! Because... because...

[Oh, just say it, Gil.]

Because I... enjoy spending time with you, as well.

[sealeted]

Yeah.

[Her fingers lace with his, squeezing ever so slightly as she rests her head against his arm.]

We should do this again sometime. Maybe we could see what types of botanical gardens they have here, if you haven't already tracked them down.

[babbylon]

...some days, it is still hard to believe I am so free.

[He sounds almost sad saying so. As if remembering everything that came before.]

[sealeted]

...

[She's quiet for a long, long moment.]

Sometimes, when I first wake up and I'm half-asleep, when things don't fully feel real... I start to think I'm just having one long, beautiful, drawn-out death-dream. That I was never torn out, and this whole time I've just been sinking down and getting erased bit by bit in the Core.

[Her voice is... deliberately blank. It's too much. If she lets her feelings on that particular truth spill out, she's not sure what might happen.]