Finis Chaldea

If Gilgamesh managed to embarrass the woman to death, he'd have reason to laugh all the way into the afterlife... to fetch her from its clutches, of course. Wouldn't that be something to brag about? If enough blood ran from her heart to her face that she collapsed from it, he'd be amused for eternity over the influence he had. "If I manage something like that, you'll be the first to read the epic tale of it," he said in a state nearing hysteria.

Hardly possible was her self-inflicted blindness, claimed Artoria. Once more, Gilgamesh would not agree. "That's very audacious of you. To be in my presence, and claim something is impossible? You haven't been paying enough attention," he stated. He was King Gilgamesh; possibility was a simple matter of his determination. As such, he understood possibility as a concept quite well. Moving on, it was allegedly against the woman's nature to run... so she wouldn't be trying to flee his grasp. Artoria also alleged that it was illogical to seek her when she so clearly detested him. Two points would be addressed in unison as Gilgamesh rolled himself and, by association, Artoria. He'd respond verbally only as he loomed over her body, having effectively switched their positions on the opposite side of the bed. "Then don't run─ submit. Accept that your true fate is at my side instead of some dream world you've imagined at the end of your lifespan. Submit to your king's desire not for a sabbatical, but for an eternity yet to come." Indeed, Gilgamesh continued fighting against the fate Artoria had chosen for herself. It didn't matter if she refused him still; he'd keep knocking on that door until the time came to break down the literal wall between Avalon and the overworld.

Yet another proclamation. Apparently, if Gilgamesh actually managed to send Artoria to the underworld with his antics, she'd be the first to read his epic on the journey. Preposterous. "Absolutely not! In no way would I partake of a tale so indulgent on your part," the smallest of indignant snorts left her nostrils. How dare he even propose to write a tale on such a thing as humiliating her to death. Of course that would be her reaction, she was indeed just the sort who wouldn't want to read anything that further embarrassed her, if she went through all the trouble of dying, she didn't need to be reminded of it, obviously.

Moving on from that point, it was apparently audacious of her to make the assumption that anything was impossible while he was involved. Another snarky little breath came to her nostrils. At this point she was just as likely to fall to a bout of hysteria, as she was to die of embarrassment. It was more than a bit annoying to be stuck in such a manner, but also rather comforting. She'd noted that there was no discomfort to be found, held so close to the King of Heroes. Perhaps she liked this arrangement a bit more than she'd originally realized? Ah but what would come next, would be a thing which always would come from Gilgamesh. In answer to her lack of flight, he claimed she should submit. To acknowledge her place was by his side, not just for her small break but forever yet to come. How oddly romantic, but also shamefully forward. Her eyes would widen at these words, but no matter the strange feeling within her chest, her mind had its own tasks to carry out. "I do not plan to run, I am taking a leisurely stroll towards the end of the world. Besides your desires in this case, cannot supersede my own..." she mused just for a second. Still those words echoed around inside of her head. And that strange tightness she occasionally felt within her chest wasn't something she was at all familiar with. 'You are not allowed to make me feel differently. If you do I will not forgive you...' Hmph. That one thought was enough to leave her smirking as she turned her head away so she did not have to look directly at him. Who gave him permission to switch them around like this? Actually, she didn't really mind this, except that it made it hard for her to change the focus of her eyes to anything else. At this rate, she truly would kick and scream all the way to whatever future he thought she belonged in.

As one should expect, Artoria would not have anything to do with the tale of her death by embarrassment. No matter; he had no actual intention of committing that sort of murder anyway. If he did kill her somehow, the cause would be very, very different. "Fear not. If I am to be your slayer, your death will be by overstimulation of a more physical nature. You can be certain of this," he declared. Now that was something he would consider a great accomplishment. Perhaps he'd even try for it once the matter of her supposed 'permanent death' was settled? It was worth a thought.

In this world, Gilgamesh had everything... but was left with one desire. His one desire, his one goal, involved the continuation of this woman's life beyond the events of Camlann. His determination had reached a point of no return; he'd transcend all laws of reality to twist fate in his favor this time. Artoria continued to refuse the proposal to join him in everlasting bliss, but that was to be expected at this point. He didn't even blame her for sticking to those ridiculous goals... however, this was not a matter truly up for discussion. "Very well. Fight to the very end, but know that the end for you will only be the beginning for us. You will one day understand that in a war of your desire against mine, there isn't a single possibility of your victory." While he still hovered atop the queen, Gilgamesh lowered himself. He'd do so only until his lips found Artoria's, where they would linger for a matter of seconds before parting─ which was only a product of Gilgamesh rolling back onto his side of the bed. It seemed he once again intended to take rest this night. This week alone, he'd known more sleep than in the previous year at least. What interesting developments being at peace made. . .

This man's teasing knew no bounds. Here and now he claimed she could relax, her death by his hands would be caused by overstimulation and nothing else. Her eyes widened at such a statement and the redness of her face became even more steep. "That does not make it better, Gil. You are not to do any such thing!" she gave an order and she knew that if he felt like it, he'd never actually follow it. But that did not mean she'd let her opinion fall by the wayside. Imagine a tale written about something like her death by overstimulation, what kind of smut was he trying to circulate in the form of an epic. It was almost laughable.

Gilgamesh's one desire was one which was shared by at least one other person. Even if that other person wasn't Artoria herself. Regardless, he never truly argued with her about her stance on her life. Unlike others who when they found out that particular fate, were more than willing to argue her stupidity, he simply let it go. Though never truly, he always made it sound like he had every intention of not letting her live her happy and distant afterlife. Even now, he claimed that the end of her solo life would be the start of their life together. Could she accept something like that? She'd have to think about it and it would not be now. No, now he was lowering himself towards her, only to press their lips together. A kiss, brief though it was, she accepted without protest contrary to her usual antics. But it seemed for the third time, the King would sleep... and she would as well. After he rolled back to his own side, she rolled towards him, nestling herself into his side, resting her head on his chest, her body curled up in his warmth, in a manner akin to a kitten. "Oyasumi, Gil..." she mumbled as her eyes came to a close. She'd sleep against him once again finding her comfort without the need to be contrary for once. Strange... she seemed to be pleased that Gilgamesh was sleeping more regularly.

Time and time again, Artoria could insist that he not do something. Perhaps one day, her attempts to dissuade him from anything would actually work once or twice. Ah... that was only a pipe dream. Gilgamesh never had been, and never would be one who responded to another's desire above his own. He could be bartered with or convinced otherwise, but even Artoria Pendragon could not simply make demands of him. So... perhaps there was to be some strange erotic epic written in the distant future. If nothing else, it was something fun for Gilgamesh to think about.

Just as fun, if not more, was the comfort of rest taken without the usual solitude. As much of a hedonist as he'd always been, Gilgamesh had shared many a random bed with many a random harlot, even falling asleep in the aftermath during his younger years. There had been no debauchery between Artoria and himself this night, yet the satisfaction was far more potent than even the afterglow of fornication had been all those times before. In Gilgamesh's mind, he had found the secret to true happiness. There was a bit more investment to make still, but that was just a matter of time. He could now bask in satisfaction that would eventually be everlasting, knowing in the depths of his soul that it certainly would be. Oh? There was another phrase spoken in Hoshimi Eri's mother tongue as she took her place against his side. Gilgamesh's eyes closed; sleep would find him quickly. Just before he lost consciousness however, there was almost a response. "Hmph. Oy─" As quickly as he'd decided to speak, Gilgamesh had nothing more passing his lips than the gentle exhales of a deep slumber.

And quietly the pair tried to fall asleep. An utterance of goodnight in her mother-tongue left Hoshimi Eri's now dozing form, and almost, for just a moment, she could have sworn she'd heard it returned. Obviously, she'd already begun dreaming, it seemed Gilgamesh had. What more could she do but drift further and further into the night. How interesting, she only used to sleep three hours a night between dawn and sunrise, here and now she was sure she'd slept multiple full nights in the warm comfort of someone else's body. Still, if the King and Queen could find peaceful rest, then surely all was right in the world.

Or was it? Strange events had been taking place earlier in this day, and they would continue to some other point. Elsewhere in the world, a woman dressed as a nun, was busy communing with herself working to piece together several strands of code which she had within her own body. This was not her standard sort of work and it seemed to require a great deal of her own concentration. Among the hustle and bustle of this whorehouse of a town, it was almost impossible to find a quiet moment to herself. But here she was, with narrow golden eyes, seemingly doing exactly that. With her own form being the sort of thing that most wouldn't randomly approach, she had little to fear by way of interruption, and her work was indeed important, so... she'd work. Ah, but there was a certain shift in the air, and a feeling in the energy of the world earlier which let her know that time was progressing towards something quite different than what this world considered normal, 'Hm, did he finally claim his wife, I wonder?' That was only a passing and casual thought and rather friendly considering.

In the very same country inhabited by that strange nun, there were many energies moving about here and there. Of those energies, quite a few could be seen as connected to the Void, though most could not claim belonging. The half-dragon, half-demon Malleus had long since been summoned by the most recent 'human' incarnation of a former goddess, whom the nun also had some form of connection to in this place. Malleus had been up to his own strange craft for quite some time, many involving some of the twenty fingers of an old demon. So many humans had been fed these fingers, and so many had been consumed by the overwhelming power from the Void coursing through their bodies. Very few had shown themselves capable of hosting even a single finger within their bodies.

Currently, there was a single vessel with a single finger, bar those Malleus had taken into his own superior form for greater power. The human vessel had sadly been reduced to a husk who could only follow Malleus' orders, but this night, he would suffer a fate Malleus himself feared. Eighteen fingers were in Malleus' possession... but a nineteenth was fated to appear through a dark portal. The human body had its second finger of the demon Sukuna implanted directly into himself, and with that, Sukuna's influence became too much for the mortal to exist in his own body at all. Shadows consumed the male form, making it mobile as it began morphing into a more suitable form. Where was it now headed, though? Well, it traveled through all things physical en route to the nun. Once there, it would manifest fully.

In the midst of her work, the nun would be visited by a male figure with spiked hair, salmon in color with a small amount of black closest to his neck. There were unique black markings on his forehead, nose, cheeks, and torso. He also had a second pair of eyes under his normal eyes, attributing to the two faces of his original form, though the additional eyes were presently closed. He also had two lines on both his wrists, upper arms, circles on both his shoulders with a dot in each, two-segmented curve lines on his chest, and two lines on his stomach. Clothes were not manifested with his transformation from the mortal's original form, but he obviously didn't care. He seemed so concerned, in fact, that his first act upon restructuring his new body was to yawn deeply. "So, this is what this world really feels like? You didn't come by to tell me about it."

Two fingers combined and created in this world, a very specific 'demon' as they were called. And where did this demon manifest? Right in front of the nun, she looked up from her work and laid eyes on a lad she'd not seen fully manifest in quite a long time. A smirk came to her face that most would have found disturbing but she knew he wouldn't mind it so. What were his first words? She hadn't told him, a minor scoff left her lips. "I hardly have time to work on my major goal... I haven't returned to the Void in quite a few cycles myself," she mused gently.

She looked over his new form and wondered how he'd managed to convince the greatest of all Demons to free him from the confines of his contract. "Besides, it would have been cruel for me to tease you with such knowledge... I didn't honestly know you'd be let out, Sukuna." she stated. "Though I am happy to see you, nonetheless..." she finished, in her own strange form of greeting. it was obvious he'd recieved at least one of his fingers back. She wondered what kind of limitation had been negotiated to wind him up directly in front of her, with what she knew to be two of his fingers within his own person? Maybe five? That would be about the most any could take without being recently descended from one of the four great races of the original world. She was sure he'd have something to say.

For some odd reason, the woman to whom Sukuna spoke was pressed for time to accomplish her own goals. Now that he was getting a feel for his surroundings, Sukuna came to realize something... almost concerning. This material world would hardly be capable of tolerating him if he consumed a few more of his original fingers, so how was she here at all? His senses gave him the answer, as well as some questions. "Why are you weak? I know sorcerers from the old days who could kill you right now," he asserted, seeming almost disgusted by how pitiful this woman was compared to her true self.

Ah, but he'd come to this woman with a purpose. She didn't know he'd be let out of the Void, so surely she wouldn't have anticipated the stipulations behind this incarnation. "I was let out on a whim. I hear the 'goddesses' here have something going for them, so I came to snag one for myself. I figured I'd have some fun while I'm around though, so..." Sukuna's clause met brief hesitation. He knew there was some pretender stashing up to seventeen of his remaining fingers in this world, but this woman had one of them. He could start with two and be satisfied for the time being. Based on what he felt in this world presently, three total would let him meet his own goals. So... Sukuna's right hand extended, palm up and fingers repeatedly twitching for himself. The 'nun' should be aware of what he wanted, being the only one who could provide it without him taking it by force. "I'm gonna need the other eighteen before I go back."

A happy little moment soon became a bit of an interrogation. Sukuna wished to know why the woman before him was so weak, and she in turn, was left to sigh at his bluntness. This particular lad did not know his way around diplomacy at all... but that was also one of the more charming points about his personality. He was quite caring beneath the surface and seemed to worry for her safety. "Sorcerers from the old days no longer exist, especially not on this level of the world. Here and now I could claim the power of a god, and I would be worshiped as such..." she explained of the current situation, though she was doing no such thing. "But to answer your question, this body slipped into the Void ever so long ago, and I kept it and the consciousness within it safe, and we... came to an agreement. I would use this body for my goal... and then return it to her. The amount of power I currently have, is all this body can take without permanent damage to it. So I am working to rebirth myself into this world. If I do so properly... I can grow to the right density and be as powerful as I was inside the Void even in the body of a child... there is no need to worry..." she explained her plan with little prompting. Of course she would, this boy was quite important to her, and she had no reason to withhold information from him.

Beyond these points, it seemed he was let out of the Void on a whim, and some knew of the goodness of goddesses. Ah, so the Heart of Genesis had indeed found her way into the arms of the Prime Destroyer. How cute. "I see. I thought I felt Anos around earlier. I am glad he finally claimed the one who belonged to him~" she mused gently. In truth she felt nothing other than satisfied at the happiness of what could be counted as her former lover and the sire of her children. Ah, but this one in front of her wanted one of his fingers. Didn't he, claiming he wished to find himself a goddess. "I've been on this side of the world for a while. I'd caution you to pick carefully..." she mentioned and that was all. She was not the type to directly interfere with anyone else's whims unless they got in the way of her own goals. "Here, have the one I possess. I didn't expect him to give you the freedom to collect all of them..." she said materializing the other finger within her own hand and placing it into his. "The halfling Malleus has the others... whatever he is doing with them I doubt you'd like, I have no use of him directly so feel free to make that claim of yours as you wish~" she said giving her this man a careful wink. "Have fun."