Team Tinies IDK WHAT'S HAPPENING

[weddingcupcake]

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[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.

[whoreofbabylon]

[Ugh. Ugh, fine, he'll humor you. Reluctantly. And with the whole bottle of wine in tow]

And that is?

[unhappymeal]

There's a price for the spell we're using. Tokiomi isn't going to like it, so I told Kariya not to tell him in advance.

[whoreofbabylon]

Do not stall, my patience is already worn thin.

[And he really means it--which is probably made obvious when he knocks back that whole glass of wine and then pours another.]

[unhappymeal]

[Siiiiigh why didn't we just decide to get rid of you?]

The curse is attacking his body through his magic circuits. That's why modern medicine didn't work. In order to curse it, we have to kill the circuits without killing his body. Are you following?

[whoreofbabylon]

[Gil makes a face - of course he follows. He's intentionally dense, but it's difficult to hang around Tokiomi for a year and not absorb some of this magic stuff via sheer exposure.]

In other words, he'll die or he'll live long enough to throw himself off of something.

[unhappymeal]

It was the only option.