Team Tinies IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING

[weddingcupcake]

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[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.

[whoreofbabylon]

Don't stand in my way!

[He snaps and tries to swat Kiritsugu's hand away. The door, however, stays closed and Gilgamesh will settle on lurking just outside it with his fists clenched]

[unhappymeal]

If you distract him too much, it could fail. I don't think you want that.

[whoreofbabylon]

Are you deaf? I hear nothing promising.

[unhappymeal]

Magic isn't pleasant.

[God I wish I still smoked.]

Come downstairs and wait. If it works, he'll be fine. If not, he'd have died either way.

[whoreofbabylon]

[Ugh, don't tell him what to do, Kiritsugu!!! He'd kill you if he didn't know that Tokiomi would frown on that sort of behavior.

Not wanting to appear as though he's obeying any command, Gilgamesh stalks off to another room upstairs. Failing to pay attention to where he's going, he ends up in the bathroom, where he waits several minutes before sulking his way down to the kitchen. There he rattles around drawers noisily to retrieve a bottle opener and open a bottle of wine.

Fuck y'all, seriously]

[unhappymeal]

[Good for you, Gil. There's wine and some pastries on the table. Kiritsugu is sitting on the porch with the door to the kitchen open.]

When you're done, there's something you should know.