Team Tinies IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING

[weddingcupcake]

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[whoreofbabylon]

Then do not die. Refuse to kneel and instead plant your feet firmly until there is a cure. If you do not want to, there is no reason to assent.

[prebeard]

I can't just tell death to go away, you idiot! You of all people should know that, shouldn't you?

[whoreofbabylon]

[Oh bitch you did not. He prefers to not even think about this shit, more or less confront it, and yet that's what Tokiomi is forcing him to do.

Gilgamesh is undeniably angry -- those words and the surrender in Tokiomi's voice all count as grave betrayals. He's all emotion now, too wrapped up in his own troubles to abide by his promise to not leave Tokiomi's side. Slamming his fist into the headboard, he gets to his feet and starts towards the door]

I know that gods are cruel and men in their vanity are foolish. I have learned nothing of surrender, not even to death, and if you believe I should, then you're unworthy of my presence.

[prebeard]

Even you have died!

[It doesn't matter if Gil is angry at this point. He'll die either way. Being killed by Gilgamesh would be a faster death than this, and one less painful. Who is he to say no to that?

But it still hurts to be walked away from, and he can't really help if his breath comes faster and more ragged because of it.]

If you would rather leave me to die alone than face the fact that I will, you're just being a coward! I didn't learn to live properly from someone who runs away!

[whoreofbabylon]

And I did not acknowledge a weakling as my master! Do not accuse me of cowardice when you are simply undeserving, Tokiomi! Without knowing better, I had pledged to stay by your side.

[Ah, but they'll only go in circles with this, won't they? Even Gilgamesh realizes this, and he gives Tokiomi a cruel glare]

So what shall we do with this situation? It would be quick to disavow one another and part as strangers, wouldn't it?

[prebeard]

Was Enkidu a weakling, too? Are all who die really just fools?!

[Raising his voice makes him cough, but that doesn't stop him. If he's going to go, he's not going to go moping. He'll snap back, even if it means signing over his life faster. Even when his coughs come with blood.]

Go on! Leave! [a pause, to wipe the blood from his chin]

If I live I'll remember that the great King of Heroes is nothing but a spoiled, frightened brat!

[whoreofbabylon]

[Seeing that determination again keeps Gilgamesh in the room. It makes him want to fight back for fighting's sake, because when one is wrong and unyielding, they deserve to be beaten down.]

You are not worth measuring against Enkidu -- know this, if you live, you wasted a decade pining for a brat too great for you. What will you do then?

[prebeard]

Then I will--

[What he will do isn't really relevant, is it? It certainly isn't when he can hardly get the words out past the coughs and the tears of pain that come with them. He claps his hands over his mouth, just trying to avoid making a mess.]

I will... Mourn the loss.. of the you who wasn't too s-spineless to love someone.

[whoreofbabylon]

[--they are certainly on track to lose one another. As though death is only a small part of the question now.

Somehow, he had thought he'd wanted that. He thought he would leave with his pride, savor a moment's worth of emotional damage, then walk away without having to witness death. It was certainly easy and appealing.

But actually watching Tokiomi cry is somehow different. Angering and upsetting all at once, Gilgamesh almost wants to curse him again for providing the distress that he had been expecting to see. The King of Heroes doesn't understand what's driving his emotions in this moment; frustrated, he can only snap out a kneejerk reply]

You will cease calling me a coward!

[prebeard]

Not unless you stay!

[Not just "stay in the room". He means it emotionally -- if Gilgamesh won't see this through, then he's a coward. That's it. He knows the King of Heroes is smart enough to know what he's asking, as if the wet trembling of his breathing isn't enough to carry it all by itself.

It can't be more than an hour now. It's taking all he's got to keep himself awake and angry.]

[whoreofbabylon]

And do what? Watch you continue to disappoint? I am unconvinced.

[Still, he doesn't look ready to leave. Not yet. He knows what Tokiomi wants, but fear and pride stand in his way.]

[prebeard]

Then you can run away. If I'm not worth your time, then you shouldn't care if I think you're a fake.

[Tokiomi is too tired to argue in circles. Gil leaving at the last moment is heartbreaking, but he doesn't know what he's supposed to do to appease him at this point. The world is too fuzzy, blurred by agony and his body's failing strength, so he gives up on making eye contact and just turns on his side to curl into a ball.

If Gilgamesh is leaving, then he can't make it any worse by giving in to physical and emotional collapse.]

[whoreofbabylon]

[And yet, somehow, he does care. He was--still is Tokiomi's Servant. His Saber. His King. He remembers not wanting to see Tokiomi become as bitter and alone as he had been.

He doesn't understand his own reasons now, but he remembers how strong those feelings were--and so as much as his stomach churns at the thought of facing down death, he finds himself more sickened by the thought of causing what he had set out to prevent.

He'll be angry later for letting old sentimentality that he cannot even comprehend now beat out his pride, but for now he returns to Tokiomi's bedside and leans against the wall, numb and confused.]

...calling me a fake is even more impermissible.

[prebeard]

[He'd insult him more, but he's still here. If he came back and he's staying, then there's no reason to complain further. What matters is that he's not being left alone.

Of course, it's Gil who'll be left alone momentarily, so it seems. Tokiomi's breathing is slowing from ragged gasps, but it's also becoming shallow and faint. He can't help his eyelids drooping, or the way everything seems to be greying out.]

Mm. Sorry...

[whoreofbabylon]

You can make it up to me later...

[He doesn't know how to address the apparent finality of it all, but his tone of voice, soft and tired and lacking all its usual regal bearing, says enough.]

Do try not to run up too much of a tab.

[prebeard]

[He gives a slight nod, followed by a shaky exhale. His hand is bloody when he lifts it -- he can only hold it up a few inches, but it's a clear invitation.]

Thank you. For everything.

[whoreofbabylon]

[There's hesitation. At this moment, he doesn't want thanks because it won't matter shortly.

Eventually, though, he takes Tokiomi's hand with a sigh.]

I believe my younger self would have considered your happiness thanks enough.

1/2

[prebeard]

Oh?

[Laughing would be too much effort. He can make a tiny amused sound though, all full of exhausted affection.]

You can tell him that I was very happy, thanks to him.

[ohbugger]

[It's about then that Tokiomi's hand begins to lose its grip on Gilgamesh's.

Only it tightens again in surprise, because it's also about then that the door is slammed open and Kariya rushes in, exited with his arms full of books and papers.]

We got it!

[whoreofbabylon]

[You'd think Gilgamesh would be elated by the news - instead, he looks downright offended when he snaps at Kariya]

Then take care of it immediately.

[ohbugger]

[Well that was a homo situation to walk into.

And Tokiomi looks worse than last time he was in here, so Kariya's face turns into a frown immediately.]

Get out.

[whoreofbabylon]

[Yeah, right back at you, kid. Gilgamesh looks to Tokiomi with the sort of annoyance that almost becomes an apology. He was asked to stay, and he has no interest in taking orders from Kariya, but delaying a cure would be foolishness beyond what Gilgamesh is capable of.

So he lets go of Tokiomi's hand and starts towards the door, giving Kariya a warning glare as he goes.]

Very well. Do not mess it up.

[ohbugger]

[Tokiomi opens his mouth to protest, but stops himself. As much as he wants Gilgamesh to stay, he knows it probably isn't wise.

Kariya, of course, is more than happy to see the troublesome Heroic Spirit go. Once he's out of the room the door is shut tightly, so work can be done. Kariya's not the magus Tokiomi is, but he knows enough from childhood and cleaning up after his adolescent roommate's magical adventures. He can do this, but it won't be pretty.

And there's no way he's going to tell Tokiomi what the true sacrifice for this spell is.

For Gil, all he'll know is that there's several minutes of dead silence. Then, all at once, it turns ti bloodcurdling screaming.]

[whoreofbabylon]

[The response is almost instantaneous - Gilgamesh comes barreling through the door in an unholy rage]

Did you think I spoke in jest, fool?! I hope you're prepared to pay with your life for disobeying me.

[unhappymeal]

[Just as Gil gets the door open to shout, he'll find there's a hand on the back of his shirt yanking him back out the door.

And closing it again.

There is no pause in the screaming and all he's likely to have seen is a lot of flashy red and purple light.]

Don't interrupt.